White Pass and Yukon Route 71 is a narrow-gauge "Mikado" type steam locomotive, built in 1939 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW). It is preserved by the Dollywood Express (DE) at the Dollywood amusement theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where it is currently stored out of service.
History No. 71 was built in January 1939 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) for the White Pass and Yukon Route (WPY). It was the second of the four 70-class locomotives that were constructed for the WPY between 1938 and 1947.
The engine worked hauling both freight and passenger trains until it was later assigned and leased to the United States Army Transportation Corps (USATC) to haul materials and transport soldiers for construction of the ALCAN highway during World War II. It was originally built as a coal burner, but was later converted to burn oil in the 1950s along with several other 70-class engines.
The locomotive eventually returned to the WPY after the war ended and it resumed hauling freight and passenger trains until it, along with No. 70, were retired from revenue service in April 1963. Both locomotives would be left on a sidetrack at the Skagway railyard for the next fourteen years.
In 1977, No. 71 and No. 70, along with some spare parts from No. 72, were sold to Silver Dollar City Tennessee (now Dollywood), a theme park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. In 1987, No. 70 would be restored to operating condition to help assist No. 192 with excursion trains.
Today, No. 71 sits out of service disassembled and is awaiting for a possible restoration to operating condition.
Accidents and incidents In 1946, No. 71 was traveling southbound to Whitehorse, Alaska with several freight and passenger cars, as it rounded a curve, the locomotive ran into a gasoline motor car that was on the same track, damaging No. 71's pilot truck. One crew worker suffered a broken leg while the second suffered minor injuries. No. 71's pilot truck was repaired and the locomotive returned to service.
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External links Official website