Some great info in the 2003 discussion. So we have pretty good evidence the #14 was built as an 0-8-0 by ALCO as a plant switcher. Anyone able to research the ALCO builder's record of NYC 0-8-0's in 1917 or 18? I could see that they might just add onto an existing order and build an extra loco as the needed shop switcher. What ya think?

I don't think the 14 was an add-on to any order from the NYC. As far as I know (and I'll have to check a roster to be sure), NYC's 0-8-0s were primarily in classes U-2 and U-3 (see correction below). The U-3s were USRA and USRA copies; the U-2s were an NYC design that predated the USRA, looked very different from it, and among other things, had much larger drivers, on the order of 57 inches, a size more associated with drag road power.

New info, courtesy of Richard Leonard's archive, from which the images below are from:

NYC's own pre-USRA designs were in classes U1, U2, U4, U33 and U61 0-8-0 engines, with a considerable collection of subclasses. Principle dimensions included 25"x30" cylinders, 200 psi, tractive effort of 54,960 lbs, and a weight of 239,500 lbs. for class U-1a:

http://www.railarchive.net/nyccollectio ... 39_tdr.htm

http://www.railarchive.net/nyccollection/nyc7271.htm

And the USRA variant on the same road--52" drivers, 25"x28" cylinders, 175 lbs. psi, 50,000 lbs tractive effort, and a weight of 219,000 lbs. for class U-3b:

http://www.railarchive.net/nyccollection/nyc7640.htm

http://www.railarchive.net/nyccollectio ... 18_rcl.htm

http://www.railarchive.net/nyccollectio ... 12_rcl.htm

At the same time, while Alco could certainly have designed a custom 0-8-0, it doesn't make sense that they would have actually done so. Which leads to the question--what would the "Liberty" have been based on?

I'm not positive--I'll have to look up some material on driver diameter, cylinder sizes, and so on--but it almost looks like the "Liberty" may have been a common, perhaps stock design, and it looks like some other roads may have bought it, among them the Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh, which became part of the Baltimore & Ohio around 1930.

These particular classes--B&O's L-4 and L-4a--were built between 1918 and 1924. Certain details look like those of the 14, but there is one unseen detail that nags me just a bit--all of these engines were built at Brooks:

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo785s.jpg

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/bo/bo-s788.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo895s.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo897s.jpg

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo775s.jpg

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/bo/bo-s792o.jpg

While looking for photos of the 14, I came across these: enjoy!

http://clayberry.org/RRPICSfromGeorgeslogDec2005/

Some notable samples from the above:

Take note of not only the three main engines of the BC&G, but of the shop complex to the left, and the mine "gob pile" locomotives to the right. Tracks curve back to the interchange at Dundon in the background, which is across the river from the town of Clay. Behind the photographer is the rest of the 18 miles to Swandale and Widen.

http://clayberry.org/RRPICSfromGeorgesl ... Se_ph.html

http://clayberry.org/RRPICSfromGeorgesl ... yq_ph.html

Our girl:

http://clayberry.org/RRPICSfromGeorgesl ... ONDON.html

Can anybody among the BC&G veterans identify who we're looking at here?

http://clayberry.org/RRPICSfromGeorgesl ... NSHOP.html

I've seen this one, or one like it before, but this is the first time I've seen it in color:

http://clayberry.org/RRPICSfromGeorgesl ... cn_ph.html

Overall view of the shop complex. I know they did it, but it's still hard to believe this railroad took care of its equipment, and the equipment of a logging road and some "gob pile" locomotives, in this tiny place.

http://clayberry.org/RRPICSfromGeorgesl ... NSHOP.html

This is one I've never seen before--No. 4 on a passenger train:

http://clayberry.org/RRPICSfromGeorgesl ... steam.html

Motor car "A" survives today on the Strasburg Rail Road:

http://clayberry.org/RRPICSfromGeorgesl ... Mr_ph.html

Tell those boys at Strasburg they need to get some green paint on this thing! And make sure they match it right, too! :-)

http://clayberry.org/RRPICSfromGeorgesl ... Dp_ph.html

Have fun.

Not necessarily. The Mack railbus in question was originally purchased by the Lewisburg, Milton & Watsontown Railway as their 21. Not only that, a group in Lewisburg, Pa. (a predecessor to the current Central Pa. Chapter NRHS) acquired the railbus from the BC&G and returned it to Milton for a while before the Strasburg got a hold of it. It now belongs to the RR Museum of Pa., to which Strasburg donated it in December 2001.