Not exactly, however there has arisen such a clatter, it requires a pilgrimage by the Ferroequus Mortis.

On July 10 1866, the Lehigh Valley took delivery of No. 63, the first 2-8-0, named Consolidation in honor of two then consolidations of other roads. It was built by Baldwin after Alexander Mitchell's proposals were rejected by other builders and Mitchell persuaded Baldwin to build the engine. It represented in some respects, the last great achievement by Matthias Baldwin, in that he died in September 1866.

Baldwin's own history, mentions this locomotive prominently. It appears in the 1913 version, ironically on page 63, which mentions that it was built for service on the "Mahanoy Plane" which had a grade of 133 feet to the mile. I calculate that as 2.52%.

The question is-where is "Mahanoy Plane", does it still exist (as right of way), and is it legally accessible?

If we can establish where this beast once trod, we will visit, photograph and share.

The attached file is a scan of a post card apparently made by the LV commemorating this engine.

Good grief, history is an interesting thing.

First, I believe Mitchell and the other LV master mechanics of the era were among steam's greatest men. You can still visit some of the places where they worked.

The Mahanoy Plane (pronounced mahn-oy) was a Reading property which is quite visible if you know where to look between Frackville and Mahanoy Plane.

The LV, PRR and P&R had a complicated set of trackage rights in the area. But Consolidation was not built for the Mahanoy Plane, which had grades of over 17%. It was an inclined plane that used stationary steam.

Consolidation's success was lifting trains by friction on a routes which did not include the plane.

Rob

PS: If you want to see the P&R Frackville depot that sat at the top of the plane, it is now in Temple, PA.

Seconding Mr. Davis, Mahanoy Plane is also a village in Schuylkill County, Pa., located at the foot of said plane. It is located west of Route 924, between Maizeville and Girardville. At this time of year, much of the plane itself is visible on the north side of the mountain looming over the village. Until fairly recent times, the foundations of the enginehouse at the head of the plane were intact, as was an underpass for Route 924. The plane was shut down around 1915, but it and its machinery remained largely intact until the start of World War II, at which time it was all scrapped for the war effort.

OK, this is from "History of the Baldwin Locomotive Works 1831-1913" (page 63)

"In July 1866, the engine "Consolidation" was built for the Lehigh Valley Railroad, on the plan and specification furnished by Mr. Alexander Mitchell, Master Mechanic of the Mahanoy Division of that Railroad. This engine was intended for working the Mahanoy Plane, which rises at the rate of one hundred and thirty-three feet per mile."

Are we talking about two different things?

The Mahanoy Plane averages out to a 21% grade, while the grade in the Baldwin book only works out to 2.5%, My guess is the LVRR's line up the same mountain to New Boston to compete with the traffic going up the Mahanoy Plane.

Mike Tillger

That's a great guess, Mike. That's the line that goes up the mountain out of Delano, currently operated by the Reading & Northern to a coal loading ramp near Morea, I believe. The PRR also had an adhesion line up that same mountain, which later came under Reading ownership as a replacement for the Mahanoy Plane.

Now all I need is a lottery ticket, so there'll be two mid 19th century locomotives numbered 63.

The thing that dreams are made of.

You might want to check this out, Superheater. A proposed replica of a wide gauge Vauclain compound 2-8-0!

http://www.vicsteam.com/

I heard about these guys through a news update on the Claude Hamilton Locomotive Group facebook page. The concept seems promising, but what really interests me is the fact that two groups on different continents are promoting each other.

What is that mini eccentric crank on the rear driver?

I've got plenty of "defective" ones that I'll make you a great deal on........:) Personally, I'd do a Virginia & Tennessee 4-4-0.

It's a half-stroke water pump, a little easier on the running gear than a conventional crosshead water pump.

Steve

This and the full crosshead water pumps were an interesting concept. The flaw to my way of thinking was that the locomotive needed to be moving to get more water into the boiler! You better fill up the tank before dropping the fire. The pumps are reproduced on the LEVIATHAN but are cosmetic stand-ins as the current locomotive relies on the more trustworthy two injector system for feeding the boiler.

Bob Kutella

That part of Pennsylvania is very interesting and holds a lot of great history. I am planning a mid-winter exploration through there this winter. My Rail Atlas of PA is still online and available for download. When you check out that area you find railroads everywhere, it is indeed very interesting.


You need to download a small plug-in here:

http://www.caminova.net/en/downloads/download.aspx?id=1

After you have the plug-in you should be able to view the map.

https://docs.google.com/uc?id=0B6r-wY29 ... load&hl=en