Built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in 1929, the CNR's Engine 6043 made it's last run from The Pas, Manitoba, to Winnipeg on April 23, 1960. Today, it can be seen in Assiniboine Park. The 6043 is one of only five CNR Mountains surviving today.
The designation '4-8-2' refers to the wheel arrangement, starting at the front and working back. The first digit states the number of guide wheels, the second the number of drive wheels and the last digit the number of rear wheels. Thus the 4-8-2 had four guide wheels, eight drive wheels and two rear wheels.
The 4-8-2 was quite popular during it's day (1920s through the 1950s) throughout North America. When you look at the 6043, you are seeing a driver of railroad and economic growth in the previous century.
You can find more technical information on the 4-8-2 engines built for the CNR offsite at Steam Locomotive dot Com.
