The old Burlington Route Locomotive on display in Sheridan’s Rotary Park on the corner of East 5th and Broadway is one of only three that have been preserved.
Locomotive #5631 is a Northern (4-8-4) type locomotive. It has an interesting and unique history, which the Sheridan Rotary Club played a large part in and now, along with the City of Sheridan are planning to continue to preserve.
The steam locomotive in Sheridan is CB&Q #5631. It is an O-5A class locomotive, and it was built in July of 1940. Originally assigned to the Chicago Division of the railroad, #5631 spent most of its career on the Burlington lines east of the Missouri River. After being retired, it was placed in the scrap lines at Galesburg, IL. Dr. Otto R. Docekal, a retired CB&Q paymaster, Sheridan dentist, and local Rotary club member, used his relationship with the president of the CB&Q, H.C. Murphy, and former CB&Q Assistant Vice President, Fred Gurley (who, at the time, was the president of the Santa Fe railroad), to advocate for its acquisition. In June of 1962, the locomotive was donated to the Rotary Club of Sheridan.
In an interview with Blaine Hadfield, Pete Olson and Dan Stalker, Rotarians and members of the The CB&Q #5631 Renovation Committee, they talked about engine and the plans they are making for its preservation. “I want to make sure that you include Susan Brayton when describing our committee,” Stalker said. “She was not able to attend the interview but has contributed to the locomotive project in many ways.”
Plans to move the engine
Plans for the locomotive include wanting to move it from its present location to a larger plot of land just across 5th Street, and build an interpretive park to house the engine.
Hadfield talked about how the locomotive came to Sheridan.
According to the information from the Rotary Club, in the period between the world wars, the passenger train departments of transcontinental railroads were a competitive business. Railroads employed the greatest industrial minds and the most prestigious marketing firms to craft brands around premier trains.
From out of this period, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q) railroad looked ahead to the new decade. The 1920s was an era of extraordinary growth and promise. Luxury and speed were paramount in the passenger train business, and the CB&Q decided to rebuild three of its crack “Limited” passenger trains to be competitive into the new decade.
This program was completed in 1930, and the railroad invested more than $3 million dollars and over a year’s labor from the master craftsman at Pullman. These were called “Anniversary Trains” because they corresponded with the 80th anniversary of the railroad.
Hadfield said that Sheridan was the western most part of the CB&Q. These locomotive’s were flagship on the railroad. Today, #563 is one of only three O-5/O-5A class locomotives to be preserved anywhere. And it is here in The Sheridan Railroad Historic District, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic places, and extends along Broadway adjacent to the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks (originally Chicago, Burlington and Quincy) from Grinnell Street north to Sixth Street. Most structures in the district are in one way or another connected to the railroad.
Artist Conception of the Park
The district constitutes the historic transportation hub for the city and surrounding communities. The centerpiece of the district is the Sheridan Inn, which opened in 1893 and is now listed as a National Historic Landmark. Immediately southeast of the Inn is the 1912 Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad depot. The original wooden railroad depot, built in 1892, lies to the northeast of the Inn, and the across the street is the CB&Q #5631 Locomotive.
Hedfield talked about the significance of this locomotive.
Hadfield said that without the railroad Sheridan would not be what it is today. In 1892 Sheridan was smaller than Buffalo, until the railroad came. The Burlington Route was built to connect Puget sound with Kansas City. Passing through Sheridan and Ranchester, the railroad ran to Billings to connected with Norther Pacific. Sheridan had the distinction of being the western most outpost of the CB&Q, which in 1970 became the Burlington Route. In 1996, Burlington merged with Santa Fe, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) now runs along the rails.
The Sheridan Rotary Club does not own the locomotive but they have taken a stewardship role. Money was donated from Rotary to the city to be used for the upkeep of the engine.
Olson said this about what they hope to do.
Olson said that the Rotary took on the project to restore it cosmetically in its current location but then the owner of the Welcome Market purchased some lots east of the wooden depot and suggested the city swap this land for land where locomotive stands so he could use the land near the Welcome Market. The city council has not yet decided on whether or not to do the swap.
Plans for the park and cover over #5631
“The lot across 5th Street is nearly double the size of this lot, but the locomotive would have to be moved. The swap is contingent on moving the locomotive.” Olson said. He added that the large lot offers more opportunity for the park they have in mind. Currently, the locomotive blocks the view of Sheridan Inn when one drives into town via the 5th Street Interstate Exit. There is no room for parking, or room to add other faculties there, so by doing the land swap, there would be more land for the proposed park.
Several groups are involved in what has come to be known as the The CB&Q 5631 Renovation Committee. The Rotary Club of Sheridan, The Downtown Sheridan Association, Sheridan Travel and Tourism, Sheridan County Historic Commission, the City of Sheridan and others. This committee is responsible for organizing the renovation and site area improvements to include scope, design, and the soliciting of funding and labor/material contributions.
The City of Sheridan is looking into grants to cover the moving the locomotive, pouring the pad, landscaping, parking, and sidewalks. Sheridan already applied for a some grants. “We should hear by end of month if the city has received the first grants.” Olson said. He added that there will be fund raising by the Rotary Club as well.
“We would do it in phases, first move the locomotive, restore it, do the irrigation and start the grass. We want to get local businesses to donated parts of the projects.” Olson said.
Stalker added, “If we get the grants, then we will start moving out, we will launch our website, and our first project with Rotary is to cosmetically improve the engine. Then beyond that a series of the other sponsorship and entities will move in. Rotary is focusing on the engine itself, making it look brand new, and we are taking on the executive management end. It might be many years, and it’s going to be a community project.
Plans for the park, note wooden depot across the tracks
Olson said, “We want to make sure to get out in the community about what this is about. We feel the land swap, and the proposed park, will benefit the community.”
Stalker mentioned that that the railroad, over the years, has been the largest employer in the area, and the coal industry and the livestock industry has been helped immensely by the coming of the railroad.
He also said that the Rotary wants to hear all voices and get community input on the project.
More Like this
Last modified: January 26, 2022