The post about DL&W 44-ton GE's got me thinking about how many 44-tonners are in the hands of museums or heritage railroads. I know two NYO&W units are safe and sound in Duluth, Ga and Lake Placid, NY. One B&M unit is on the Conway Scenic. Are any plinthed?

Others are on tourist roads, but are they "saved" or just working off more miles?

And, where are the earliest 44-tonners?

Seems like a good candidate for the North East, PA museum, no?

Rob Davis

Ahead of the Torch
trains@robertjohndavis.com

New Hope Valley RR has two in that size range. One was used today as a load for testing steam locomotive 17 on its first out of the yard run. 17 was wonderful. The 44 tonner had a bad siderod bearing and slowed us down.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

> The post about DL&W 44-ton GE's got me
> thinking about how many 44-tonners are in
> the hands of museums or heritage railroads.
> I know two NYO&W units are safe and
> sound in Duluth, Ga and Lake Placid, NY. One
> B&M unit is on the Conway Scenic. Are
> any plinthed?

> Others are on tourist roads, but are they
> "saved" or just working off more
> miles?

> And, where are the earliest 44-tonners?

> Seems like a good candidate for the North
> East, PA museum, no?

> Rob Davis

Rob,
The Conway Scenic 15 is former Maine Central 15. You might want to check the list of preserved diesels at The Diesel Shop.

www.ole.net/~rcraig/DS.html

JJ

It's not a 44-tonner, but Mid-Continent has a 45-tonner that used to be the shop switcher at the pullman plant. It's used all the time, but is still considered part of the historic collection.

Allan

Pullman-Standard #4

ddg14@msn.com

Then of course, there is the saga of the 50-ton Whitcomb that was preserved, then disposed of, by Mid-Continent. It is currently being operated by the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad in revenue switching service.

Hall Printing #5

ddg14@msn.com

44 tonners don't have side rods. 45 tonners do. If your unit has side rods it's not a true 44 tonner

irss@eriecoast.com

> Others are on tourist roads, but are they
> "saved" or just working off more
> miles?

Very important distinction. The Strasburg has ex-PRR 9334 (I think I remember correctly), now their 33. They simply use it as a shop switcher and freight loco, and it is likely to last as long or longer than some of the steam power. I'm sure the fellas at the RR Museum of Pa. across the street would love to give it a good home, but that is unlikely to happen until Strasburg locates a comparable replacement switcher (which basically ihasn't been produced for decades now). In addition, a very good case could be made for the RR Museum acquiring a former *industrial* 44-tonner--a much more representative use of said loco.

> Seems like a good candidate for the North
> East, PA museum, no?

It would not surprise me one bit if one of the locos that still switches the Erie GE plant has been promised to the Lake Shore group. I think the East Erie Commercial RR still rosters a 70-tonner.........

In other preserved GE switchers, the Central Pa. Chapter NRHS at White Deer, Pa. has a GE 45-tonner with unusual chain/gear linkage instead of side rods, acquired from a steel plant near Harrisburg; and the B&O Museum has a former Baltimore & Annapolis 70-tonner in a far corner of their lot (possibly on the de-accession hit list, for all I know).

lner4472@bcpl.net

Don't forget the WAG centercab at Lake Shore in NY and the 100tonner at Lake Shore in OH. for a coupla "last of the breed" locos

lamontdc@adelphia.net

and the B&O
> Museum has a former Baltimore &
> Annapolis 70-tonner in a far corner of their
> lot (possibly on the de-accession hit list,
> for all I know).

Last I checked they also had the very sorry remains of one of the only two B&O RR 44 tonners--they replaced the Litte Joes as Mt. Clare Shops switchers and Pratt Street run motive power. They got the engine from an industrial operation somewhere in PA in the early 90s--that litte critter was not completely beyond cosmetic resotration but it will take a LOT of work.


eledbetter@rypn.org

44-tonners and 70-tonners that were built for railroad service (as opposed to industrial use) are rapidly becoming few and far between. They have almost vanished from common carrier short line use, although a few hold on - usually where there is another unit available to cannibalize.

Alan Maples

AMaples@aol.com

The East Broad Top owns a narrow gauge 44-tonner. Their M-7. It pulls its fair share sometimes. It is to pull some trains at this year's Fall Spectacular.

Alexander Railroad #3 (ex Hampton & Branchville) is still in service in NC.

stealthnfo@aol.com

The Oklahoma Railway Museum operates a May, 1941 unit, ex-USA 301, ex DCFB 301, now ORM 301. Purchase a replacement Generator for one end. The units are easy on fuel. Operates our Caboose train and a small two car passenger trains at the museum. In addition handles all work train assignments.

> The post about DL&W 44-ton GE's got me
> thinking about how many 44-tonners are in
> the hands of museums or heritage railroads.
> I know two NYO&W units are safe and
> sound in Duluth, Ga and Lake Placid, NY. One
> B&M unit is on the Conway Scenic. Are
> any plinthed?

> Others are on tourist roads, but are they
> "saved" or just working off more
> miles?

> And, where are the earliest 44-tonners?

> Seems like a good candidate for the North
> East, PA museum, no?

> Rob Davis


drakerr@telepath.com

OK, let's not forget that there were a lot of the 44 tonners used to take the place of overhead wire on many traction railroads.

The Western Railway Museum has had the Visalia Electric Ry #502 since 1973. It is now operational with both Cataplllar Diesel engines for the first time in a while.

The construction number is unknown but built by GE in either 1945 or 1946. Visalia Railway was owned by the Southern Pacific.

ted_miles@nps.gov

> OK, let's not forget that there were a lot
> of the 44 tonners used to take the place of
> overhead wire on many traction railroads.

> The Western Railway Museum has had the
> Visalia Electric Ry #502 since 1973. It is
> now operational with both Cataplllar Diesel
> engines for the first time in a while.

> The construction number is unknown but built
> by GE in either 1945 or 1946. Visalia
> Railway was owned by the Southern Pacific.

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Indiana has a 44 ton center cab on its roster. Built by Whitcomb Locomotive Works at Rochelle, Illinois in August of 1941, it still has its original Caterpillar V8 diesel engines. The locomotive was built as Day & Zimmerman #4-44, became U.S. Army #7308, then worked for McGraw Construction (number unknown), then at South Elgin, Illinois for the Chicago Gravel Company as their #509 and finally for the Port of Indiana as #1776 (in a bi-centennial red-white and blue paint scheme) before coming to HVRM as its #27. The engine shares time hauling the museums passenger carrying caboose train with Erie S1 diesel #310. Since #310 is drained when the cold weather arrives, the Whitcomb can usually be found running during cooler weather when any work is needed to be done around the museum.

midlandblb@cs.com