A surprisingly good looking display of Bonhomie & Hattiesburg Southern 300 (Baldwin 2-8-2) and a Hercules Powder Company fireless engine (Heisler 0-4-0F); somebody is caring for these locomotives.

https://thevblock.blogspot.com/2018/09/ ... win-2.html

The engines look much better than they did a few years ago although the most recent paint job shows signs of weathering.

The nearby Hurcules wood chemical plant where the fireless engine worked has been demolished, leaving only the boiler house stacks standing.

- Alan Maples

Area looks maintained. I wonder what condition the cabs are in?

Just my opinion, but that 300 is a really interesting machine. Built with the same size cylinders as Sierra RR 2-8-2 34, she has something like 52" drivers instead of 46" like the 34 has.

Be a nice engine for the right pike.

Some material on the B&HS--interesting road, much of it apparently still in service.

A bit unusual for shortlines, it looks like it got most of its power new.

It looks like Prairie No. 250 is still around; does anybody have an current information on her?

http://www.msrailroads.com/B&HS.htm

https://hawkinsrails.net/shortlines/bhs/bhs.htm

B&HS 250 (ex-Wolfeboro Railroad 250) is on display at Edaville USA/Thomas Land (former Edaville Railroad, 2ft narrow gauge) in South Carver Mass. It has been evaluated for the owner of the theme park (who also owns the Grafton and Upton Railroad, a shortline in south-central Massachusetts) for potential operation - it is reportedly not a worthy candidate for restoration at this time.

Thanks for sharing. Hattiesburg is on my list to visit as it was the home base for Wilmington & Western's beloved former Mississippi Central 4-4-0 engine No. 98. I'm guessing that our No. 98 and B&HS Nos. 300 & 250 crossed paths at various points in time. It's my hope that one day a photo of such a meeting will appear.

An interesting note is that engine No. 98 pulled a special train to the opening of the Hercules Plant in Hattiesburg and the superintendent of construction from the Wilmington-based Hercules Company who oversaw the construction of that plant lived in a house that overlooked the W&Ws tracks where No. 98 ultimately ended up.

Brain cells get tickled, and I remember that the 300 was the main star of a record album,
"Steam Railroading Under Thundering Skies." This was a record, originally recorded on the B&HS during a thunderstorm.

https://www.discogs.com/No-Artist-Steam ... ter/645384