71 years ago, in 1953, Great Northern No. 1246, a hard-working steam locomotive born in 1907, was donated to the City of Seattle by the Great Northern Railway Company so future generations would always know about and appreciate the steam locomotive era in the Pacific Northwest.
GN 1246 was put on display in the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, but since then, it has had a long and arduous journey. This is its colorful story, and the story of the impact GN 1246 and the railroad have had on one Great Northern family.
GN 1246 was saved from the scrappersÕ torch many times in its lifetime, a shining example of hope and resilience.
Ultimately, Saving Great Northern 1246 is a celebration of those people and organizations who still care about preserving railroad history.