Abandoned Steamer in NJ saved

o anderson · **Posted:** Fri Jan 14, 2011 10:22 pm

I was aware of an abandoned 2' gauge locomotive recently, from browsing steamlocomotive.com:
http://steamlocomotive.com/lists/search.php?str=carter+construction&country=USA

Yesterday this locomotive was removed for preservation, according to the Railfan and Railroad news site:

Quote:

Last winter, a two-foot gauge Baldwin 0-4-0T that had been used in the construction of the Lackawanna Cutoff across New Jersey was discovered in Andover, N.J. Its discovery had not been announced then because the ground had not frozen hard enough for it to be removed. But on January 13, 2011 Carter Construction Co. No. 31 (c/n 34797, June 1910), one of three engines built at the same time, was trucked out of the Westby Farm, where it had sat for nearly 100 years, to a secure storage site in Sparta. It is thought to have been used to move fill and material during the construction of the Pequest Fill in the early part of the 20th Century and was accompanied by the remains of a small, four-wheel car. No. 31 will be cosmetically restored and eventually put on display at the former Susquehanna Sparta depot.

http://www.railfan.com/rf_railnews.php

robertjohndavis · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:10 am **Posts:** 2499

Please see the other thread on this, where I have posted the reasons I believe the DL&W connection is false.

http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=30716

Bob Davis · **Joined:** Sat Aug 28, 2004 3:25 am **Posts:** 1025

I never thought of "humus" as a commercial product, "hummus", yes, it's a food product of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean origin, but "humus" is something found in the woods, and I had never heard of it being gathered for sale or industrial use. Learn something new every day!

daylight4449 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:07 am

I'm curious, but has there been any other developments on this engine? Everything I've managed to track down is seven years old at this point...

railfanmag · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:33 am

Speculation on my part, so take with a grain of salt -- the original plan was to display the locomotive at a museum to be established in the former Susquehanna station at Sparta. Shortly thereafter, the station burned to the ground. A replica has now been constructed on the original site. Now that the station is back, perhaps movement on restoring the locomotive will commence.

Rick Rowlands · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:50 am

Or, since it is a two footer, send it over to Youngstown for a full rebuild! 58 is almost finished and I'll be looking for another project.

It would be a shame to let it just sit on display when it is a small manageable sized locomotive that would not be too big of a job to rebuild, even if it would need a new boiler.

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2018 11:14 am

I like your spirit, Rick.

elecuyer · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2018 11:40 am

I'm pretty sure we could find a home for it at the WW&F, too. Does anyone know the real status/ownership?

daylight4449 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2018 11:53 am

Rick Rowlands wrote:

It would be a shame to let it just sit on display when it is a small manageable sized locomotive that would not be too big of a job to rebuild, even if it would need a new boiler.

You're right on that Rick. If no one is doing anything with it, I've got a few people I've been working with chomping at the bit to get involved in a project like this, even if it's only a cosmetic restoration... Even static it could be an excellent teaching tool, and because of it's size it's not a major hassle to move it around. Although looking at the original picture, saying it would need a new boiler is an understatement... Seems a good chunk of the barrel rotted away!

Rick Rowlands · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2018 4:27 pm

It looks just like that 36" gauge Baldwin 0-4-0T that was in the gondola car at the Mad River & NKP Museum that I helped haul out for it's new owner last year.

Do all Baldwins fall apart like that after their first century in existence?

daylight4449 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 08, 2018 6:31 pm

Rick Rowlands wrote:

It looks just like that 36" gauge Baldwin 0-4-0T that was in the gondola car at the Mad River & NKP Museum that I helped haul out for it's new owner last year.

Do all Baldwins fall apart like that after their first century in existence?

I would imagine they do if that century is spent entirely outside...

hullmat991 · **Joined:** Sun Dec 28, 2014 11:12 pm **Posts:** 197

Rick Rowlands wrote:

Do all Baldwins fall apart like that after their first century in existence?

“When one hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not.” - Wise Green Muppet

John Risley · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 10:34 pm **Posts:** 918

Ok what am I missing? The boiler looks intact. I see jacketing hanging down and some rusty sheet metal near the backhead? Enlighten me guys! Regards, John.

Rick Rowlands · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2018 11:00 am

Baldwins of that time period didn't have very thick boilers to begin with. Probably wrought iron, possibly lap seam.

daylight4449 · **Posted:** Fri Mar 09, 2018 11:55 am

John Risley wrote:

Ok what am I missing? The boiler looks intact. I see jacketing hanging down and some rusty sheet metal near the backhead? Enlighten me guys! Regards, John.

One of the pieces hanging out from under the boiler. Totally different material than the saddle tank or one of the remaining jacket pieces if the picture means anything... Regardless, where is this thing now? Still stored somewhere in Sparta?

Abandoned Steamer in NJ saved

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