The Geigertown Central Railroad & Museum acquires a antique 1930’s built Plymouth locomotive from McHugh Locomotive & Equipment. The small 30 ton mechanical drive locomotive had previously been in storage untouched for well over 35 years. In late 2018, J.C. McHugh agreed to sell the locomotive for one dollar to the Shirey family. The agreement of sale terms include that the locomotive can not be resold, transferred, or leased, to any for profit corporation, private individual, 501C3 non-profit corp., railway group, museum, and or be scrapped. The sales agreement terms also include that if the Shirey's can no longer take proper care of the locomotive or if they no longer desire to own it, that the locomotive will be sold back to the McHugh family for one dollar.
On 28 January 2019, the locomotive was placed into the McHugh facility located in Fairless Hills PA so an inspection of the unit could be made and the unit was found to be in relatively fair used condition. The Shirey's approved to have some additional minor repairs and adjustments preformed to the locomotive that included servicing the old gasoline pony motor and CAT 130000 diesel engine.
On 4 February 2019, the antique locomotive was fired up and successfully moved under its own power at the McHugh facility. The little Plymouth locomotive nicknamed “Tinkerbell” has been painted in a bright red and flat black color scheme with “GEIGERTOWN CENTRAL RR” placed on each side of the engine hood. The Shirey family had a special request that the McHugh’s were very happy to help them with by placing “In Memory of D.J. Shirey” on each side of the cab and to also number the locomotive 7767 representing the late D.J.’s birth date.
On 23 March 2019, “Tinkerbell” was transported to Geigertown PA were a crowd had gathered to see the locomotive arrive at its new home. D.J.’s mother Janice, brother Paul, father Dave, and several friends, were also in attendance. As the tractor trailer pulled on site with the 7767, photographs and video’s, were taken to documented the days activities. The group watched the locomotive as it traveled from the trailer down a rail ramp system onto the track and operate over a short section of the railroad. JC McHugh’s two eldest grandsons Joshua and Darin also participated in the event.
The folks at the GCRM then utilized the 7767 to move a derelict GE 45 ton locomotive to a location where it could be removed from the property. The GE 45 ton locomotive will be transported by truck to the McHugh Locomotive & Equipment facility at Fairless Hills PA in the near future.
The Giegertown Central Railroad & Museum plans to operate 7767 coupled to a small 4 wheel railcar on special occasions to provide invited guest a train ride.
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