Miner Manufacturing in Donnellson, IA used to operate a doodlebug on about a mile of track, and had the Indiana Northern 0-4-0 #3 on a track next to their engine house. When the owner passed away, all the railroad equipment/artifacts were auctioned off. The steam locomotive did not sell at auction. It was subsequently sold by his widow, I'm told, but I do not know to whom or where. One rumor has it that it was sold for scrap. Does anybody know the disposition of this little locomotive?

I've crossed my fingers, hoping someone would reply with some info on this little 0-4-0 tender locomotive. The lack of any response, makes me think that perhaps the family of the gentleman who owned the engine, DID INDEED, sell it for scrap. There always has been much criticism in the past of Dick Jensen, the family of Paulsen Spence, and others, for scrapping locomotives, but here, a much more recent event has apparently happened, and there seems to be just a shrugging of shoulders. Is it because the engine was just a little, old, 0-4-0? Without much historical importance?

Les

Aren't we jumping the gun a little bit. Just because it doesn't happen on RYPN doesn't mean it doesn't happen in real life. As we also know, just because something is posted on the internet, does not make it true. What we do know is that nobody has posted information to this particular forum regarding the disposition of the locomotive. Trying to guess what happened based on a lack of response is just pure rampant speculation.

David -

Perhaps we are. BUT, I asked about this engine (actually Indiana Northern #4; not number 3) back on June 9th of last year in a thread titled "Dissected and Abandoned". There was no response at that time either. I hope that the engine WAS purchased by someone. The lack of ANY news about it, has me apprehensive. In this day and age of the internet, it seems that EVERYTHING is reported. But this little engine, historically important to northern Indiana at least, seems to have just disappeared into thin air.

Les

Jeff Terry told me that at some point he knew where the little guy went, and didn't think it was scrapped, but he couldn't find his notes.

Found this on Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/harleypass/2919592307/

I found my notes about this engine. It's now in front of the depot museum at Aledo, Illinois. Still in pieces right now, but they're planning a cosmetic restoration.

Jeff Terry

Thanks Jeff - Pix here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/danaroundt ... otostream/

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.

Thanks Jeff and Mike -

And so now we know, the rest of the story! Great that the little 0-4-0 ended up preserved, along with the Ft. Madison, Farmington & Western diesel and their CB&Q way car. Looks like Aledo will be on my list of future places to visits.

Les

I stopped in Iowa to see this loco in July, 2009 - a few months before the auction and the owners death. Previously he had spent some major money having the Strasburg Shops work on the frame and running gear of this loco. They replaced tires, axles, crown brass, pins and bushings. Also some cylinder and piston ring work. He had concentrated on the running gear as it was quite evident that a new boiler was necessary. Too bad it didn't find a home where the restoration could be completed.

Happened to stumble upon a number of photos of the Aledo, Illinois depot, four-wheel diesel and CB&Q caboose tonight on the internet. There were a number of photos of Indiana Northern 0-4-0 #4 in various pieces. All of those pix were taken back in 2009. Wonder if anything has been done on a restoration of this little 0-4-0 with the slope back tender over the last 6 years?

Les

I was through Aledo six months ago and the locomotive was still in various pieces with no sign of recent work. I can put up a few photos if you like.

r.i.lines -

Recent photos would be great! Here's a shot of her working in regular service:

http://www.monon.monon.org/railpixs1/in ... thern1.jpg


Les

Here are a few photos for Mr. Beckman and the group from April, 2015!

r.i. lines _

Thanks very much for the current photos. Interesting that the Indiana Northern lettering can still be faintly read on the side of the slope back tender. The IN had sold the locomotive to a gravel company in the mid-1940's so this lettering may be what was originally painted on the locomotive when she left the Baldwin factory over a 100 years ago!

I agree that she could use some T.L.C. Hopefully the folks out there in western Illinois can at least put her back together. They seem to have done a decent job on restoring the local depot and other rail equipment.

Les