Forum Members,

I’ve recently begun some research on a very peculiar mine 0-4-0T steam locomotive on "display" just out side the corporate limits of Davis, WV along HWY 32. There is a surprising lack of information on the Internet, and it doesn’t even register on Mr. Baily’s comprehensive database http://www.steamlocomotive.info. According some sources, this locomotive is one of two that apparently were, pulled out of a mine a few years ago, maybe sometime back in the 80s or 90s.This obviously would explain its condition with an inherent lack of all major appliances and missing saddle tank. On another note, this locomotive is sitting on the property of Mr. John Tisdale which also happens to be the home of Forest Chemical Products Heisler No. 2.

If anyone here has any information on this locomotive, or much less has any remote idea of what i'm talking about, please let me know. All comments are welcome. As I said previously, there is surprisingly little information about this locomotive on the web and I'd be very interested to find out what you all know.

I have created a small album (4 pictures) from scarce images I have been able to find off of the internet and can be accessed from the link posted below.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing

Thanks,
-Andrew

Hi Andrew!

I have a camp near Davis and will be in the vicinity this weekend. I have been intrigued by the "legend" of the locomotives for a few years, particularly the illusive Heisler #2 which I've never actually seen in person. The other locomotive that you posted the links to used to sit near a road side car wash in Davis (in the first photo, it appears to be at the location I'm referring to). I believe it was removed from the site sometime in the very early 2000s, and I have not seen it since. There was another tank engine that sat near the same car wash but on the opposite side. It was painted a wierd blue color. I am fairly certain that this locomotive made its way to a railroad museum in Kenova, WV, but haven't fully connected the dots on that yet.

Anyway, can you give me a general location/address for where these locomotives are supposed to be? I don't recognize the building in the photos as anything in Davis, and I'm rather familiar with the area. On the other hand, when you see a place practically every weekend, you tend to overlook things and "take for granted" common sites. I will check back tomorrow evening before I leave for my camp and if you have given me directions or an approximate location, you may just get surprised on Sunday with some brand spanking new photos of the locomotives in question.

thewvnetwork,

I unfortunately cannot be much help in this regard as I am not altogether that familiar with the area. From several accounts I have read, the locomotive is sitting right on highway 32 and is clearly visible from the road. I'm thinking that the locomotive might be be somewhere between Thomas and Davis, although I really could not be sure or that. Thanks for your help.

http://www.wmwestsub.com/thomassub/francisbranch.htm

http://www.ridermagazine.com/favorite-r ... n-d-c.htm/

Best of luck,
-Andrew

From the Rider mag website.

Here it is.

http://binged.it/1VgVAUq

Mr. Rowlands, thank you very much for its location. I was beginning to have my suspicions that the locomotive was in Thomas rather than in Davis, and you have just confirmed it. Now the question arrises however, of why it appears in bing maps, but does not in show up in google maps. I wonder if the locomotive has been moved indoors, as this man has also done with his Heisler? Is it possible that the locomotive has either been moved or disposed or? This also brings up the question of ownership, do we know who owns it? Once again, thanks to everyone here who has given input.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Thoma ... cb1b?hl=en

/Andrew

Hi,

Recently (past few months), over on NGDF I think,there were photos of what looked like an 0-4-0t in WV that had training wheels on one side. t was aparently a 40" gauge locomotive modified to run on a 36" gauge track. It also had an EBT hopper, EBT steel box car, and several other 36" gauge cars.

It is not this loco, just a slight tangent.

Doug vV

I suspect you're discussing this:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=25721

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=38107

All,

I was without internet this weekend so didn't receive any of your posts until a few moments ago, but luckily I decided to drive up to Davis and Thomas and found the yellow building on my own! I have literally driven right past it for years not knowing what was hidden within. The 0-4-0T tank engine shown in the other pictures and Bing Map elsewhere in the thread is no longer on the property. Apparently it was either sold or scrapped. However, I walked up and took a peek inside the windows and found that the Heisler IS still stored in the building in a side building appropriately labeled "Engine Room". I took a couple of photos, but the glare was bad due to the double pane glass that the building has. However you can see that the engine is present and covered with a tarp. I am not sure who actually owns the building or if I could ever be allowed to have a closer look, but I will try to look more into it in the future. I am the editor of a small quarterly railroad journal, so maybe I can get some photos to include in a future issue of it. I have posted four photos on my Casshews Facebook page. The first one is at the attached link, and you can go through the album to find the other three photos as well. I took a photo of the grounds outside as well to show where the other locomotive once was. An old wagon is today sitting in the approximate location where the locomotive once stood.

https://www.facebook.com/CassRailroadLo ... =3&theater