I recently learned that the Davenport company records now reside at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Davenport produced locomotives at its Davenport, Iowa plant between 1902 and 1956 and a number of their old steam and diesel locomotives still exist. Persons that might be seeking information on them are directed to Becky Thoms at the University of Iowa. Her e-mail address reportedly is:

becky-thoms@uiowa.edu

When checking out Davenports on the internet, I ran across a 3' gauge 0-4-0T built as c/n 2056 in 1925 for a company in Valparaiso, Indiana; P. T. Clifford & Son. The saddletanker was supposedly sold to a Penn Coal Company (location unknown) in 1930 and about this time, DLW converted it to standard gauge. The 0-4-0T may have later worked at a gravel pit somewhere in Illinois and was eventually sold to a private owner around 1948. It was purchased by the Midwest Central in 1958 for $400(!), but displayed and never operated. J. David Conrad's book reports it sold to a Kim Graham in 1980 in West Liberty, Iowa. Anyone know if this little 16 ton Davenport still exists, and if so, what its current condition is?

Les

some records went to the canadian nat archives
thats where I got the boiler prints for the porter

(davenport bought out porter)

dr

dr -

I believe you are correct. I think Davenport bought out Porter in 1950 and made locomotives to their designs until Davenport itself closed down in 1956. Brings up an interesting question. Porter built its last steamer in April of 1950; 0-4-0T #4 (c/n 8234) now at the B&O Museum and at least one Fireless Cooker after that. How close were these to having Davenport builders plates rather than Porter?

Les