Discussions

four flat cars and a Caboose were transported to Winnipeg by barge and Steam Ship down the Red River and unloaded in St. Boniface.  
 
The Countess of Dufferin is a trim little wood burning locomotive that was built in 1872 by Baldwin at a cost of $9,850 (plus delivery charges of $400.00) for the Northern Pacific Railroad.  
 
In 1872 after the NPR faced financial problems Joseph Whitehead paid $5,300 for locomotive #21, and an undisclosed sum for a number of flatcars, and a Caboose.  
 
After working on the construction of the Rail line across the Prairies she spent some years at Canmore, Alberta at the mines, and at Golden B.C. hauling lumber before returning to Winnipeg.  
 
This was such an important event that the Free Press issued an extra edition, (one page) and they announced that the rail unit would be transported down the Red River by the S.S. Selkirk and unloaded at #6 warehouse located at the foot of Post-office Street. A grand rally was planned, and overseen by the mayor and corporation.  
 
Countess of Dufferin – The first steam locomotive in Western Canada is today located in Railway Museum Winnipeg.  
 
Note #1: The residents of Golden still feel that ‘Old Betsy”, as they called her is living under false pretences in Winnipeg. They claim that her Spirit exists today in the Mountains.  
 
Note #2: Joseph Whitehead named the locomotive Countess of Dufferin after the wife of the Canadian Governor General.  
 
Note #3: Joseph Whitehead’s son Charles opened Brandon’s first lumber business in May of 1881, but sold it the following year to spend more time on his farm located south of the city.  
 
Note #4: The Whitehead family first owned controlling interest in The Brandon Sun in 1903.  
 
Source: The Winnipeg Railway Museum  
 
http://www.wpgrailwaymuseum.com/loco-countess.html  
 
http://www.brandonsun.com/media-guide.html  
 
http://siamandas.com/time_machine/PAGES/institutions/COUNTESS_OF_DUFERRIN.htm