Hello, Can any one tell me if PORTER LOCO CN 201 is on display? If so where? I would like to plan a trip this summer with my family visiting different RR museums that have early surviving locomotives on display (1890 and earlier). I'm also interested in any early Pre Alco (1890 and earlier) ROGERS, RHODE ISLAND, ECT..If anyone has information regarding these makers on display anywhere in the US it would be appreciated. Thanks, greetings from the North East.

I would suggest starting here: http://steamlocomotive.com/ The webmaster maintains a database of surviving locomotives with condition and location.

Rich C.

As far as I know, Porter C/N #201 no longer exists.

You will find an 1886 Rhode Island 2-8-0 in Idaho Springs, CO on display in an easily accessable location, and conveniently located 3 blocks from a good microbrewery.

dave

If you get as far west as California, CSRM in Sacramento has quite a few pre-1890 steam locomotives in its collection.

If you get as far west as Minnesota, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum in Duluth has the first steam locomotive in Minnesota, the William Crooks, a 4-4-0 built in 1864 on display along with many much more modern examples of big steam.

In the back of the soft-cover book The Steam Locomotive Directory of North America by J. David Conrad there is an index by builder's number.

Porter 201 is not on the list. There is c/n 84 and then c/n 283.

The best place to see in the east for early power is the B&O Museum in Baltimore. They have what is one of the finest collections in the US of pre-1900 locomotives. There are 3 1890 design freight "hogs" preserved in my area. All of them are N&W Class G's, typical 1880-1900 design Belpaire boilered 2-8-0's. Baldwin built #6 is here in Roanoke at VMT, and sister #7 is in a park (in rough condition) in Bluefield WV. Roanoke Machine Works built #305 is under a shed in Saltville Va. It is the most original of the 3, as it was sold into industrial service around 1920, and received very little modification until its retirement 40 years later.

Let's approach this another way:

Is there a specific reason you're seeking a Porter locomotive #201, what is that reason, and is the "CN" supposed to be "construction number" or "Canadian National"? We'd hate to have you either go on a wild goose chase or have you seek out something you think is one thing (like "my great-grandfather's personal engine") when it's possible it might not be what you think it is.

Those of us who answer queries about vintage stuff on a regular basis for museums or archives are constantly amazed at both the incredibly vague nature of some queries and the occasionally completely specious or incorrect nature of some "information" passed on at times.

All of your responses are greatly appreciated, thank you guys! Wonderful wealth of knowledge in here. Alexander D. Mitchell IV just to clear up the confusion, the CN I was referring to is the abbreviation for construction number. From what I have read this Porter was at one time active (1874) in Cape Code, MA Marthas Vineyard RR.

If you can make sure you visit the Museum of Transporation near St. Louis. The oldest loco there is Boston & Providence 4-4-0 "Daniel Nason" from 1863. There are two built by Rhode Island, 1893 Lake Street Elevated 0-4-4T #9 "Charles H.," and 1899 Wabash 2-6-0 #573, both originally compounds but rebuilt as simple locos. Other old items are B&O 1873 4-6-0 #173, Boston & Albany 1876 4-4-0 #39, "Marmora," which is the only surviving example of an "Eddy Clock," C&NW 1900 4-4-2 #1015, Georgia 1896 0-6-0 #724, MKT 1890 4-4-0 #311 (rebuilt and modernized in 1923), Philadelphia & Reading Coal & Iron Co 1889 2-2-2T "Black Diamond," the only surviving inspection loco, St Louis Iron Mountain & Southern 1889 4-6-0 #635, and Winona & St Peter 1873 4-4-0 #274.

If you are along the border region there is EP & SW #1 in El Paso Texas. It has an 1857 builder’s date that J. David did a remarkable restoration on. There is also the 1875 Inyo in Carson City at the Nevada State Railroad Museum.

Robby

The V & T # 22 "INYO" a 1875 baldwin 4-4-0 is scheduled to be under steam this weekend (sat/sun/mon) at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City.

Enjoy

C W

In the Atlanta, GA area, the GENERAL, Rogers 1855 at Kennesaw, GA and the TEXAS, Danforth, Cooke & Co., 1856 in the Cyclorama in Grant Park in Atlanta.

If your in Maine stop by the Maine State Museum in Augusta. There you will find (among other gems) the Whitneyville & Machiasport "Lion" from 1843