6039 became one of the first steam locomotives to be owned by F. Nelson Blount, and it subsequently became part of his Steamtown, U.S.A. collection for static display.

Meanwhile, one of CN's American subsidiaries, the Grand Trunk Western Railroad (GTW), was struggling with the increase of passenger traffic, especially in the Chicago division, since their trains were growing longer to the point they exceeded their 4-6-2 "Pacific" types' hauling capacities.

6039 was the third member of the class,[3] and it was initially used by the GTW to pull heavy passenger trains between Chicago, Illinois and Port Huron, Michigan.

6039 was reported to have received vanadium steel main frames and boxpok driving wheels, but not all of them were applied at the same.

After World War II, the GTW started investing into diesel locomotives, which would take over most of the high-priority assignments.

6039 was reassigned to pulling secondary passenger trains between Detroit and Muskegon, and it last served in the late 1950s.

Blount wanted the locomotive to be shipped to Wakefield, Massachusetts to be exhibited at the Pleasure Island amusement park, but it ended up being put in storage in St. Albans, instead.

The following year, it was moved again to North Walpole, New Hampshire, due to the increase in size of the collection of locomotives and rolling stock.

[6][1] The locomotive was also repainted with a light grey smokebox and a solid black number plate, and it was put on display at North Walpole in front of Maine Central 2-8-0 No.

[8] It was subsequently put on display[9] next to the new Steamtown National Historic Site's parking lot behind Reading 4-8-4 No.

6039 was removed from display and towed to Steamtown's back shops to await for another cosmetic restoration that wouldn't come until October the following year.

After the new shiny black sheet of boiler jacketing was replaced, Steamtown's boilermaker, Mark St Aubin, took two and a half days to reassemble the piping.

The locomotive was subsequently moved out of the back shops to remain on display on various parts of Steamtown property.