I did have some trouble getting into website with the link provided. Finally got in by going to http://gowest.coalliance.org and doing a search on the wesite for "Midland Terminal".

I'm trying a link to one of their Otto Perry photos of one of the Midland Terminal 2-6-0's as rebuilt from a USATC 0-6-0. This was the first time I have seen photos of the converted engines. They made for an interesting looking locomotive, complete with 2 cross-compound air pumps up front instead of the familar centered single pump of the 0-6-0's.

If the link doesn't work, go in using the above address and search. It's worth a look around.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

MT 2-6-0 from USATC 0-6-0

Strasburg RR looked over #1533 back in the early 90's when they were doing contract work on NH&I #40. My understanding was they felt that the hole in the boiler was very much repairable (and is in decent shape), and that the engine could be made operable albeit with extensive running gear work. One of '33's biggest problems when in service was that her front pony truck would frequently derail and over the years it saw rough running and fixing. The engine was last run in December 1975. Unfortunately the tender is in really sorry shape; last time I was by for a visit (about two years ago) a tree was growing up through the middle. The hole in '33's boiler stems back to when a former NH&I stalwart cut the boiler plugs around the outside edges of the threads in the late 70s! Also lots of parts removed from the engine have disappeared or were accidently scrapped when stored in an adjacent trailer in the late 80's. The current NH&I management says they have future plans for 1533, but I'll be surprised if it ever comes to pass. They are more interested in running a huge 4-8-4 which itself needs a ton of work and is a bit oversized for their line.

> The 1533 was sweet little locomotive. I have
> some pictures of her decked out in CNR
> colors, operating in the snow on the
> NH&I. I'd love to see this little engine
> restored for operation. I can't quite
> understand how a small branch line tourist
> road can operate a 4-8-4 economically, but I
> am probably missing something on that note.
> I do hope #1533 is repairable. I hate to see
> a half disassembled steamer sitting in the
> weather and rusting away.

Rails Around Gold Hill, by Morris Cafky, was a late-1950s book that can sometimes be found in libraries (try interlibrary loan). It covered the roads that ran into Cripple Creek and Victor, with a lot on the Midland Terminal. There is also a video that covers the Colorado Midland and Midland Terminal, I think produced by Mountain Automation. I saw it on public TV a while back. Lots of MT action, including some color and the last run in 1949.

The MT 2-8-2s were from the defunct Copper River & North Western in Alaska; they went to Mexico afterward. The 2-8-0/2-8-2 was originally Chicago & Eastern Illinois. Both the 2-6-0s and mikados are seen in the video.

Incidently, the old stone CM/MT roundhouse still stands in good condition at Colorado City, as a showroom for the Van Briggle Pottery Company. The old machine shop nearby was still the Ghost Town tourist trap last I knew.

> Bob: Thanks for that post! After some
> difficulty, I was finally able to pull up
> the Otto Perry photos of the Midland
> Terminal. Great stuff!! I've got to go back
> and look it over more closely. These are the
> first good photos I have ever seen of the
> Army 0-6-0's converted to 2-6-0's by the MT.
> I believe that the difference between the
> two builders is that Lima's engines had one
> large sand dome ahead of the steam dome
> while the Alco's had two seperate sand
> domes, in front and in back of the steam
> dome. If that is true (I'm going from memory
> now), then the MT had two Lima's (64 and 66)
> and one Alco (#65) according to what I can
> make out from Mr. Perry's pix.

> A couple of other things I didn't know about
> the MT. They had some true Mikado's (what
> road did THEY come from?) Wow! And a Mike
> (#61) that looks as if it may have been
> converted from a 2-8-0 from the looks of the
> tiny trailing truck.
> Sure would like to know more about this
> fascinating road. Know of any books about
> it?

> Les


Van Briggle Pottery
ryarger@rypn.org

> Rails Around Gold Hill, by Morris Cafky, was
> a late-1950s book that can sometimes be
> found in libraries (try interlibrary loan).
> It covered the roads that ran into Cripple
> Creek and Victor, with a lot on the Midland
> Terminal. There is also a video that covers
> the Colorado Midland and Midland Terminal, I
> think produced by Mountain Automation. I saw
> it on public TV a while back. Lots of MT
> action, including some color and the last
> run in 1949.

> The MT 2-8-2s were from the defunct Copper
> River & North Western in Alaska; they
> went to Mexico afterward. The 2-8-0/2-8-2
> was originally Chicago & Eastern
> Illinois. Both the 2-6-0s and mikados are
> seen in the video.

> Incidently, the old stone CM/MT roundhouse
> still stands in good condition at Colorado
> City, as a showroom for the Van Briggle
> Pottery Company. The old machine shop nearby
> was still the Ghost Town tourist trap last I
> knew.

Bob: Thanks for all the information. And an ex-C&EI steam locoomotive too. Wow...the story gets more and more interesting!

Les


midlandblb@cs.com

> I did have some trouble getting into website
> with the link provided. Finally got in by
> going to http://gowest.coalliance.org and
> doing a search on the wesite for
> "Midland Terminal".

> I'm trying a link to one of their Otto Perry
> photos of one of the Midland Terminal
> 2-6-0's as rebuilt from a USATC 0-6-0. This
> was the first time I have seen photos of the
> converted engines. They made for an
> interesting looking locomotive, complete
> with 2 cross-compound air pumps up front
> instead of the familar centered single pump
> of the 0-6-0's.

> If the link doesn't work, go in using the
> above address and search. It's worth a look
> around.

> Regards,
> Jim Robinson

Jim:

I also noted the twin air pumps on the pilot of the 2-6-0's. Except when I looked again at Mr. Perry's photos, it looks as if #65 (the ALCO) only had a single pump. Check when you get the chance and see if you agree. If so, I wonder why the two Lima's (64 and 66)were equipped with the extra air pump but the ALCO (#65) didn't need it?

Les

midlandblb@cs.com