She's on her way to Connersville.http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=122844&format=htmlTo all our friends there:Personally, I hate to see her leave, but it's good to see her go to a good home. Keep us posted on any progress.

What is the story on this perky engine?Why Whitewater Valley? Don't they already have steam engines that need investment?

Here is what we at the WVRR have so far.************************************Locomotive #6894 is presently located in Hagerstown Maryland under the care of the Hagerstown NRHS Chapter. The owners of the locomotive have stored the engine here since 1971. The Whitewater Valley Railroad became aware of the locomotive’s possible availability in January of 2001. Subsequent negotiations with both of the owners and the Hagerstown Chapter indicated that a donation of the locomotive could be arranged. The Whitewater Valley Railroad then proceeded to work out methods by which the locomotive and tender could be moved to Indiana via railroad flatcar. The fact that this locomotive is a former New York Central steam engine and one that is of the same class as the engine that had been assigned to Connersville until 1957, made this a very desirable locomotive as it has the combination of historical traits sought after by our organization. Locomotive History New York Central #6894 was built in June of 1912 by the American Locomotive Company, Pittsburgh Works, builder’s number P 51245. It was delivered as #8794 and was renumbered to its present number in 1936. It is a classed as a B-10W by the New York Central and assigned to the Michigan Central whose lines included lines radiating out from Detroit, Michigan to the top of the Michigan, Toledo, Ohio, and across northern Indiana to Chicago. The Class B10 indicates that the locomotive is an 0-6-0 switcher with 180 psi boiler pressure, 57 inch driving wheels, cross compound air compressor, and 21 x 28 cylinders. Subclass W engines were designed to specifications that included superheated steam, outside piston valves, Walschaerts valve gear, and a slightly larger coal supply. Tractive effort of this series was 33,140 pounds and total weight on drivers was 171,000 pounds (85.5 tons). Tender water capacity was 8,400 gallons with standard coal capacity of 10 tons. The engine received a number of upgrades over its life including power reverse, automatic ash pan shaker motor, and flange lubricators. The New York Central operated a fleet of 683 class B-10 and nearly identical B-11 switch engines until the depression. During the 1930’s many of the oldest switchers were retired due to the lack of business and either sold or scrapped. A programmed upgrading of the older switchers was begun in 1913 and ended in 1928 to refit many of the older class B-10 sub classes with improvements, including superheating, of the last series built. Many of these were never upgraded to the B-10V and B-10W specifications. As #6894 was built to the newest specifications it remained with the New York Central until after the end of World War II when new diesel switch engines and larger more modern U class 0-8-0 s began to replace the B-10 and B-11’s. In November of 1945, #6894 was sold to the Wyandotte Southern Railroad in Wyandotte, Michigan and renumbered as #7. It was again sold in June of 1950 to Nicholson Terminal and Dock Company at River Rouge, Michigan who renumbered it as #15. Apparently sold in operable condition the engine went to Mr. B.J. Pollard of Detroit in May of 1966. It was sold by him to Custom Car Services in Hagerstown, Maryland in January of 1969 and the engine was moved to Hagerstown. Custom Car apparently was headed by a Mr. Darby who restored antique passenger cars. The locomotive was reportedly used to test steam heating systems on these passenger cars. Mr. Darby’s business apparently did not work well and in 1970 the engine was sold to Maryland Metals for scrap. In July of 1971 a group of individuals headed by Mr. Charles Smith and H. Lansing Vail purchased the engine from Maryland Metals with the intention of bringing it to the Wilmington & Western Railroad in Delaware. The engine was prepared for shipment, but was never moved for unknown reasons. It was stored in the Western Maryland Railroad roundhouse complex until that facility was demolished a few years ago. The engine has since been outside on a siding near the Hagerstown Chapter NRHS building. Of the 489 B-10 class switchers, #6894 is the only one in existence. Only one of the nearly identical class B-11 switchers #6751 survives. Of the huge fleet of New York Central steam locomotives, only 12 (including the two above) remain in existence.

There are a few small things I would change with that. It was to leave Hagerstown in 1977 and a big going-away bash was held, with Chessie and WM displays. And I'm afraid I'm not sure why it never left either. Also, it was never "kept" in the roundhouse. The 2100 crew once moved it inside and was told to put it back. I'll let our friends with the Whitewater Valley address what the future may hold.