Taken in 1967:

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?j ... n_MN_a.jpg

http://abpr.railfan.net/abprphoto.cgi?j ... n_MN_b.jpg

Is OIM #806 the oldest 0-8-0 in existance in North America? She certainly looks pre-World War I and pre-USRA.

Les

With a build date of 1910, OIM #806 is pre-World War I and pre-USRA. But, she is ranked #6 in terms of age; oldest is "Memnon" (B&O #57), built by New Castle Man. in 1848 and preserved at the B&O Railroad Museum.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

So, what is the NEWEST preserved 0-8-0 in the US?

Bob Kutella, feeling it may not be that new.

According the volunteer I talked to this past Thursday, Memnon, B&O camelback 217 and William Mason are in the museum's new shop.

Bob

Jim -

I must admit that I forgot about "Memnon" at the B&O Railroad Museum. Still hard to believe that there are four OTHER 0-8-0's left that are also older than Oliver Iron Mining's #806.

Les

Dear Les:
I count 3 (three) 0-8-0 tender locomotives older than the 806 (built 6/1910):
Memnon -1848, KCS 1023 -1906 and CPR 6947-1908 (the last two began their careers as 2-8-0s).
Virginian 4 is close, built 8/1910, two months after 806...
Best regards,
J.David

Seven of the Grand Trunk Western 0-8-0s from the Northwest Steel & Wire fleet have Sept 1929 construction dates.

Why was it none of the 1950's built N&W 0-8-0 switchers survived, "low mileage" and all?

I'd have to guess PP&L 0-8-0 fireless #4094 would be the newest......built Jan. 1940.

The scrapping of 0-8-0 #244 (I THINK that was its number) was a real tragedy. She was the last new steam locomotive put into service on a common carrier railroad in the United States. I believe she was built in 1953. But there was a rush by the N&W to get ALL steam scrapped once the decision was made to dieselize. Very shortsighted!

Les

Bill -

The PP&L 0-8-0 may have been newer than the surviving GTW 0-8-0's (with #8380 at Illinois Railway Museum being THE newest), but #4094 was not technically a steam locomotive generating its own power. She MAY however, be the newest surviving Fireless locomotive built. Anyone know THAT for sure?

Les

J. David -

Thanks! I guess I myself would have to disqualify KCS #1023 and CPR #6947 as they were not originally BUILT as 0-8-0's. Virginian #4 is another matter. The "early" as-built 0-8-0's really looked a lot different than the USRA 0-8-0's, and copies. I am really surprised that any survived. Wish the one at the Indian Hill & Iron Range had (ex-NYC). Ever photorgaph that one?

Have a great Christmas!

Les

Dear Les:
I saw it in operation once when I was about 10 while riding to Chicago on the 'Central (but no photo).
I helped RJ move some tires out of their shop and into his bread truck. Typical Jensen, no machines, just pry bars, blocks, a "comealong" and a lot of muscle.
Have a nice Holiday!
J.David

Dear Les:
If my memory is correct (sorry, no copy of the Directory handy), the newest fireless is the one the Smithsonian has at their vast storage facility in Maryland. I beleive that it is a Davenport-Bessler 0-4-0F built in the mid-1950s' and ran at Potomac Electric Co. in Washington D.C.
J.David