Any new news on this ?

I flew to Florida to take a look at it earlier this week. Based on the way it was screwed up when it was moved to Florida a number of years ago, I'd say it would not be worth restoring to operation; possibly as an inaccurate display. I'm interested in some of the parts for its sister, #11, that I'm working on in Campo. I'm really busy right now, catching up on a lot of stuff in the way of house maintenance. I'll try to get a more detailed report posted in a week or so.

Hello,

I, too, want to know what happen to The Coos Bay Lumber Co. #10? Did someone buy it or did it went to scrap.

If anyone know any information on The Coos Bat Lumber Co. #10, please let me know.

Thanks,
Brian Waller

Reported on facebook that it's being scrapped, no confirmation though.

CD

Yes, #10 is now being scrapped. Because we own, and are working on restoring its sister, #11, I went down to Florida to take a look, and see what parts might be available.

Our Coos Bay #11 was built by ALCO in late 1929. It was followed soon thereafter in 1930 by #'s 10 & 12, all built to the same order number and plans. #9 followed in 1935, with some minor differences. Don't ask me why they weren't in numerical order, but we have a list of locomotives from Coos Bay Lumber, listing #11 as their newest locomotive, put in service in January, 1930. The list includes a #8 as a 1926 Heisler, and #10 as a Willamette Shay. The complete set of blueprints we have, donated a few years ago by Plum Creek Timber (present owner of the old Coos Bay Lumber property) state that these prints are for #'s 10, 11, & 12. We have a separate set for #9.

Number 10, which was built in 1930 was retired in the 1950s and sent to Cottage Grove, OR, to be put on display, where it remained until the late 1970's or early 1980's. It then went to the Midland Railway Historical Association in Baldwin City, Kansas, about 40 miles SW of Kansas City.

At some later date, it was sold to an "entrepreneur" in Florida. He was developing a large RV park that was to feature rides on a narrow gage train, pulled by a steam engine that was converted to hydraulic power (diesel engine in the tender drove a hydraulic pump, connected by hoses to a hydraulic motor in the firebox, with a chain drive to one of the driver axles.) Coos Bay #10 was to be a display engine.

Now comes the sad part. They moved the engine in two or three parts (maybe more). In any case, the boiler was removed from the frame. They did it the quick way. The furnace bearers were torch cut, as were the rivets on the waist bearers. Instead of trying to remove the bolts attaching the bottom of the smoke box to the saddle, the bottom of the smoke box was simply cut around the outside edge of the saddle. As a final insult to the integrity of the engine, the steam pipes between the smoke box and the valve cylinders were torch cut; not just a cut, but about a one foot section was cut out. At some point, either before or after the move, all the asbestos lagging was removed, about the only good thing I can say about what has happened.

The engine was re-assembled, if you can call it that, in the "back 40" of this large RV park. The boiler was simply set back on the frame, apparently not really attached. It appears that an old tender on the site was to be placed behind it to look like it was a tender-type locomotive, instead of a saddle tanker. The cab was modified in that the fuel tank was removed, along with the side doors being filled in. The back was wide open, like a typical tender-type locomotive. Wide running boards were added between the cab and front of the boiler, partially covering the now open stubs of the steam pipes leading to the cylinders. Hand rails were welded to the side of the boiler. At this point, the entrepreneur went bankrupt.

New owners took over, and have developed what appears to be a very nice RV park. But, they have no interest in the train aspects. And, they now want to expand the park into the area where the train stuff is located. The narrow gage train with the hydraulic "steam engine" has been sold. Coos Bay #10 is for sale. I found out about this recently on the Railway Preservation News web site . #10 was actually sold to a scrapper, who has offered to sell the whole thing or as parts. Since it is (was) identical to our #11, on Aug. 1, I flew to Florida to take a look, and see what parts might be useful as spares for #11. I spent most of the day on Aug. 2, inspecting the engine.

Most of the information noted above from Baldwin City and later came from either my inspection, or what was told to me by the scrapper.

Because of the open steam pipes, the valve cylinders were actually almost full of water; I guess nothing inside would be much good. Virtually all appliances, controls, gages, etc. were not there. The firebox door frame was broken, and some modifications had been done to the door. The driver wheels and tires actually looked good, but they would not be easy to ship.

I've made an offer for some of the parts (rods, etc) but haven't heard back from the scrapper. I guess you could say that we are still negotiating a price.

In my opinion, this locomotive was screwed up beyond reasonable restoration when it was moved to Florida. I don’t think the scrapper has much choice.

Jim Baker
Steam Foreman, PSRM
http://www.psrm.org

Get the parts you are able to save. How very sad.

After reading this thread it is a shame to see something like this go to scrap and not been able to be save. I wish someone would of save this old locomotive.

All it takes is money. I don't have it.

Dale

You forgot to add the place to put it. Though, yeah, with enough money that can "go away" as an issue as well.

Agree it should be saved, mostly the running gear for parts. Maybe having a spare frame/running gear doesn't seem like much, but a once in a lifetime chance for most locomotives. Oh to have spare wheel sets, driving boxes ect! Then again would they ever get used? One heck of a nice option to have a donor for parts.

Yep, all it takes is money. Nope, I ain't got it either. Good luck with saving what you can for the lucky one. Cheers, John.