I went back and forth on whether or not to post this, but this is an item that truly deserves a home and maybe its time to get it some exposure.

This is a 1930 Plymouth gas-electric which, although in horrible shape, is complete and I would consider it a time capsule. This engine was used for years at the Navy's Lakehurst, NJ site, made famous by the Hindenburg. I have two pictures of this locomotive with the Hindenburg.

This Plymouth is in a southern, NJ junk yard which is better known for its inventory of aircraft and aircraft parts. It was also recently written up in a Philadelphia newspaper.

I am not sure of the weight off hand with the ballast, but probably in the 35 ton range, give or take.

I do stay in contact with the owners and, no, they won't give it away. They won't even sell parts off it. Its all or nothing, but they will give a buyer a break on the scrap price for it.

I have looked at buying it, but have no place to keep such a beast, especially since its appearance is rather poor.

Feel free to pm me if interested. It needs a home.

This is the one Ed mentioned.


J.R. May

I remember visiting that scrapyard around 1963 or so. In addition to this Plymouth, there was also an 0-4-0T with a homemade four-wheel lead truck and lots and lots of bits and pieces of World War II aircraft and vehicles. I recall seeing nose blisters for B-24's and B-17's, along with weapons carriers and half-tracks, as well. I often wonder what happened to the little steam engine. Anyone know?

G.W. -

A 4-4-0T. Now THAT would have been an unusual beast! Were there any saddletankers built in that wheel arrangement? Ever?

Les

There was small Diesel like that along with an 0-4-0T steam loco with a 4 wheel hand cart stored under its front end, in a junque yard on the East side of U. S. Rte. 206 South of Columbus, N.J. The steamer is now along U. S. Rte. 30, the White Horse Pike, near Absecon, N.J. I wondered where the Diesel had gone.

Yes, mostly but not exclusively by the British. And roughly 28 remain today.

Here is a link to the 0-4-0T.

http://steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive ... splay=1764

Wesley

The Lakehurst locomotives, to include the Plymouth and perhaps the two Porter 90 ton locomotives went first to John Mahalchick's scrap yard on Route 206. The Navy 0-4-0T went came there as well and was moved by Mahalchick out of Philly to the yard.

I don't know exactly when the Mahalchick yard closed nor when the 0-4-0T went to Absecon, but it was Wade's junk yard who took much of the airplane remains and moved them to their site in ATCO, NJ when the Mahalchick yard closed. They also took the big Plymouth. They deserve a big thank you for saving it. This must have been the late 1970s or so.

Mahalchick was an odd character to say the least and has been written up in local history books and magazines. At one point he built a large tee-pee to live in when his house was burned down. He bought all kinds of military surplus stuff including buss loads of old type writers. The site is still vacant and local rumors are that there are buried land mines on the property and the usual stories of hauntings.

Its a shame the 90 ton Porters were lost. They were used to move the mooring mast around at Lakehurst. I think they were 0-8-0s and were some sort of internal combustion powered. Very low profile, very heavy. I have a picture, but can't seem to find it right now.

So, anyone out there have a home for this Lakehurst Plymouth?
J.R.

Looks like a complete Green Bay & Western car in this junk yard photo from four years ago. That's kinda neat.

GB&W car at salvage yard by M.R.Kirk, on Flickr

After 3 years of asking we get one week to remove this 1909 UP CA from its scrapyard home of 62 years ! One week to raise $2000 build another frame and clear the inside of a few million aluminium cans and car parts !
Sadly it may be a strip and run excercise.

Mike Pannell

Sadly it was a strip and run excercise, the caboose was rotten as a pear. It will help our 2516 no end though and its the best we could do.

And you probably feel lousy for not having done better. I think you should recognize that you've done the best you could given the late opportunity to save something you knew was more valuable than did the owners. The caboose finallyu got appreciated for what it could contribute to another cause.