Between 1911 and 1916, a number of 42" gauge ten wheelers and consolidations were assembled by Reid Newfoundland Company in St Johns, Newfoundland. They were assembled from parts supplied by Baldwin.

It makes sense the boilers would carry Baldwin numbers.

Would anybody have a list which ties Reid Newfoundland Co. builder's number 1-10 which were 4-6-0's and 11-12 which were 2-8-0's (road numbers 111-120 and 152-153) to boiler numbers assigned by Baldwin?

Even a list of locomotives sold to Reid- Newfoundland Company would help, since the "kits" could easily be separated from known "complete" Baldwin locomotives sold to the railway.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

This relates to identifying a treasure trove of dumped boilers, tenders, and other steam locomotive parts which have recently been rediscovered. One tender still carries the ghost of Reid- Newfoundland Co. Ltd lettering (which ceased to exist in 1923). I'm not publicizing details or locations at this time, but an attempting to assist the lads who are recording details of the finds.

Thanks,

Steve Hunter
Cardinal, Ontario

Steve,

All I have on the Newfoundland Railway 4-6-0's and 2-8-0 is:

CNR'50 NF Boiler Year
Number Number Bldr Number Built Scrap Notes
====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== =============
(15) 113 RNC 3 1912 12/51
(16) 114 RNC 4 1912 12/51
(17) 117 RNC 7 1914 7/53
(18) 122 BLW 46637 1917 7/53 Order No 17060

CNR'50 NF Boiler
Number Number Number Scrap Notes
====== ====== ====== ====== =============
280 152 11 4/55

The CNR Mechanical Department drawing for #280 lists the builder as Baldwin but does not list a boiler number.

I was just thinking, that collection of Baldwin spec sheets that was posted her a while ago may have some information on these engines.

http://www.trainweb.org/j.dimech/roster/steam.html

OK, here's a possible builder's number.

Can anybody say what Baldwin builder's number 22932 was?

Thanks,

Steve

Thanks, Joe!

Unfortunately, the Reid Newfoundland builder's number will be on the builder's plate, which is gone from all the boilers. The spec sheet list includes but not the "kits" shipped to Newfoundland for assembly by Reid Newfoundland Co. I'm wondering if they were considered as "parts" rather than locomotives, but the boilers should still have a works number assigned.

Boiler numbers stamped in the backhead or dome may still be legible.

Hopefully the needed info can be found, so all 13+ boilers found to date can be traced to the locomotive they were used on!

Steve

According to my Baldwin records, #22932 was built by Baldwin in October 1903 as Wabash 2-6-0 #851. It was an order for two locomotives at the time. This does not sound like what you are looking for.

Hi, Ron:

Thanks very much! Apparently this number was stamped in the outer surface of the mud ring of one of the boilers, so it may just be a pattern number or drawing number.

These boilers have been sitting very close to salt water, and some probably get wet in extreme high tides, so it's possible the number was misread due to rust.

Hopefully they can locate valid builder's numbers so more of the boilers can be positively identified.

Steve

Checking the dome may be the only chance they have for finding the numbers, however, there may be additional info stamped elsewhere on the boiler shell or backhead.

13+ boilers! wow! just boilers and tenders or frames and running gear too? Is there any chance of recovering any of this?

Hi, Joe:

Yes, I agree the best chance would be the dome, followed by the backhead. Pitting from salt water and air may have rendered any stamping illegible, but the search is slow, difficult work. Access is risky, and there is only about a four hour window for access at low tide.

So far no frames and running gear, but several tenders have been found. Hopefully some of this stuff can be preserved, but the first stage is determining exactly what is there and developing a plan of action.

The Belpaire firebox from Pacific #597 is there, and I think it'd be a fantastic display piece beside the preserved #593 in Cornerbrook.

Most of the rest look like they came from ten wheelers and consolidations, but a couple of mikados may be represented as well. Who knows what else may appear as the search continues!

I'm just assisting with information and suggestions, as I'm a thousand miles from the sites where these things are surfacing. Believe me. I'd love to be directly involved!

:-)

Steve

Is there a website related to this project?

Nope, there's no web site. This is a very recent development, brought about by Darrell Steele deciding to walk the line and follow up on a couple of rumored locomotive parts. What he has found (so far) exceeds anybody's expectations.

There has been quite a bit of discussion on the Nfld_Rly Yahoo group, but there is (so far) no preservation group involved.

Darrell has posted a few videos of these finds on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/VideosOfNewfoundland#p/u

Steve

Incredible

Looking over a couple of the videos, it looks like a lot of stuff from an industrial facility as well as some locomotive iron. I think what was shown was the corrugated firebox from a stationary boiler and a quick glance at a heat exchanger........followed by a photo essay on a rusty journal box lid. Never did see the frames and cylinders, just one keyhole boiler, highly depreciated, but there were a LOT of videos to go through.....and it's getting late. Was there a mill or other steam equipped plant nearby?

dave

I think these two videos make it pretty clear that there is a huge pile of steam locomotive boilers there.

http://www.youtube.com/user/VideosOfNew ... qjnk_Vub7A

http://www.youtube.com/user/VideosOfNew ... sD-6RwcBTo

Hi, Dave:

There is some miscellaneous junk that Darrell found, but the interest here is at least 13 locomotive boilers and several tenders. Darrell doesn't pretend to be a subject expert, and has shot virtually everything for comment by those of us who can't be there. For me, this is a 1200 mile drive and 12 hour ferry trip.

You're right, there are a lot of videos and I didn't have time to pull out the best choices.

So far no running gear has surfaced, but hopefully some will be found. It's very possible all the running gear, packing more steel in a small space than the boilers, was loaded on a ship at St. Johns to be sent for for "more conventional" scrapping.

Don't look for "runners" here, because you won't find any. This is strictly a very interesting exercise in railway archaeology!

Steve