Steam Locomotive Between CEDAR KEY, FL. & CRYSTAL RIVER FL.

Mr.Starr · **Joined:** Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:41 am **Posts:** 100

All,
I am aware of A Steam Locomotive residing along side a highway Between Crystal River, FL. and Cedar Key , FL .The Locomotive is on the Righthand side X miles, minutes out of CEDAR KEY , Florida anyone know of this locomotive and its Whyte Classification ..aka Wheel Arrangement? I also would like to know if there are any Drawings , Photos of this Steam Locomotive?

Mr. Starr

R. Hahn · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 5:01 pm **Posts:** 199

This one https://www.steamlocomotive.info/nloco.cfm?which=326?

Roger

p51 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 06, 2021 3:25 pm

Wow, I remember that so well. Growing up, we'd go to muzzleloading shoots somewhere in the area, and we'd drive by this loco all the time.

eze240 · **Joined:** Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:29 am **Posts:** 319

I think this is the one where the plaque says it was "converted to steam"...
Its been awhile since I was out there, but as I recall, it's kind of in the middle of nowhere....

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Mon Dec 06, 2021 9:39 pm

Simply, it's a 2-8-0 or "Consolidation". Looks to be very light as locomotives go. I'd venture either off a shortline or agricultural railroad. She'd probably be an economical engine for a tourist line, assuming there's enough of her left to restore.

J.David · **Posted:** Mon Dec 06, 2021 11:49 pm

Greetings:
See page 33 of "The Steam Locomotive Directory of North America" (1st edition) for specifications, ownership history and location (Gulf Hammock, FL).
J.David
PS: I have someone lined up to layout the 2nd edition after the North Pole Express season is over at Valley Railroad and we both have some time. JDC

teqdiver · **Joined:** Tue Sep 07, 2004 8:18 pm **Posts:** 81

The engine sits just to the right off of US 19 as you are traveling southbound in Gulf Hammock, Florida. As an avid cave diver I spend a lot of time in north central Florida. There are a couple deep caves that I visit in the Crystal River and Weeki Wachee area. Whenever I’m in the area I try to pay a quick visit to Number 3. She truly is in the middle of nowhere with virtually no context or interpretation. She would make a modest engine for an operation f she was able to be restored to running condition. Outwardly I’ve seen far worse looking locomotives, but obviously I have no idea iof her true condition.

Over ten years ago, the town of Fort White, Florida where there is a dive shop I frequent restored their depot along US 27 in their downtown. They had plans to bring in a static display of a steam locomotive, boxcar and a caboose. They installed a long panel track, but only the caboose made it to the site and it now has weathered a bit. The rest of the panel track sits conspicuously empty. I’ve always thought that their site would make a much nicer, safer and far more prominent display site for Number 3 still with some local context. If I lived locally this is an idea I would pursue, but my time there is always completely filled with other activities.

Here is a link to an article about the Fort White depot project:

https://www.columbiacountyobserver.com/ ... depot.html

Ryan Parkevich
Columbus, Ohio

cedressel · **Joined:** Thu Jul 23, 2020 1:08 pm **Posts:** 2

Google (and Google Maps) is your friend.
https://floridatrailblazer.com/2015/07/07/roadside-history-the-patterson-mcinnis-steam-locomotive/
and
https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=19402

Chuck

Dennis Storzek · **Posted:** Tue Dec 07, 2021 12:45 pm

Quote:

Originally a wood burning engine thought to be built around 1915, it was converted to steam during its service, which ended about World War II.

I'm sure glad they finally converted it to steam. Wonder what it ran on originally.

Where do they get this drivel?

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Tue Dec 07, 2021 4:52 pm

Dennis Storzek wrote:

Where do they get this drivel?

NEVER underestimate the willingness of people to accept as gospel complete and utter balderdash from people who act and speak like they know more, or have some piece of paper claiming they know more.

All one has to do to find proof of that is to look at politicians.