I had high hopes for both these locomotives, and without bringing too much that I don't know into it, the sad fact is that #7 , a Lima product, was cut up for parts. Chances are in today's world, nothing of that manner would have happened. Friends tell me that her remains were loaded into a gondola and pushed out of sight of several railfan specials. #9 lived to see another day, and after being opened and left to thirty years of rusting, is being reborn by SMS in New Jersey.

Oh, Cliffside #40 is seen here as well. Wonder what happened to her?

No. 40 is alive and well and doing good service on the NH&I.

From what I understood, the #7 was never owned by the NH&I, and the dispute between the owner and the railroad is what led to its ultimate demise.

It was lucky that the contractor hired to cut the 7 up was willing to part out the 7 for the 9, including the running gear which was swapped out and placed under #9.

Other parts were sent to the Whippany River's ex VBR 0-6-0, which will soon see service again too.

The 7 may be gone as a whole, but it will eventually run again "in spirit."

And yes, the 40 has been running consistently on the NH&I since 1991.


Interesting note: you can see in the last two shots, the 1525 coupled to the front of 40 with its vestibules cut out during the process of being converted into the open air car "Rogue". It is once again back in service, although now it is a full open air car compared to its prior conversion as a partial.

No. 40 in action--pretty little engine, and as a Baldwin, reminds so much of the power on the EBT:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvql8BI1feU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF0ASXyrGbM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns3pim8KOlU

Enjoy.

Thanks for the pics, Richard!

Here's some info I compiled and posted at Railfan.net:
http://forums.railfan.net/forums.cgi?board=NHI;action=display;num=1326389820


US Army #9 and US Army #7

US Army 0-6-0 #9
The 9 entered passenger service during the Bicentennial summer and ran in this capacity until its flue time expired in 1981. After a decade as a display, the locomotive received an extensive overhaul in 1993, including major firebox and boiler repairs.
(From the New Hope and Ivyland website)

US Army 0-6-0 #7
In 1976, the New Hope & Ivyland RR of New Hope, PA scrapped a LIMA 0-6-0. In 1966 #7 came to the NH&I from the Virginia Blue Ridge along with sister #9. Both built in 1942, the switchers worked in naval supply service for the US Army. In 1952 they were sent to The United States Transportation Corps. training facility at Fort Eustis. #7 was later sold with three other Army 0-6-0's (0-6-0 #5 became the Morris County Central's 4039, now at the Whippany RY Museum in Whippany, NJ). She became #7 on the Virginia Blue Ridge in 1958 and in 1966 came to the NH&I. Between 1967 and 1976 #7 was stored on a spur in the woods between Lahaska and Buckingham Valley stations. She never ran on the NH&I. In order to place #9 in service in mid 1976 #7 was stripped and scrapped. (Information provided by Jeff Slupski)
(From Steamlocomotive.info)

L&C /Cliffside #40

In 1962 the 40 was retubed in anticipation of future use, however, this never transpired due to the sudden diesel purchase. Instead, Steam Trains, Inc. from Pennsylvania purchased the locomotive for $5,000 and shipped it north with spare parts for storage at the Reading's Beech Street roundhouse in Wilmington, Delaware and later at the Reading's St. Clair shops. In 1966, much of other Steam Trains equipment was assembled in a transfer move to New Hope, PA., with the 40 dead-in-tow.

Although it was in operating condition, the 40 only saw service on the New Hope and Ivyland during the 1967 season. It underwent a major rebuilding in 1974, and replaced 4-6-0 No. 1533 in NHIR passenger service beginning in 1975. While the 40 operated periodically during the late 1970s, it frequently pulled New Hope Steam Railway passenger trains from 1981 to 1986. During the latter period, the locomotive was decorated as a circus freak, wearing flashy florescent colors and garish tender heralds. Last steamed during the 1986 season, the 40 was stored unserviceable for the next couple of years.

Because the future of the railroad seemed questionable at that time, the NHSR was reluctant to make the necessary repairs to repair the 40 for service. When the Bucks County Railroad Preservation and Restoration Corporation purchased the railroad in 1990 they engaged their own mechanical forces and those of the Strasburg Rail Road in extensively rebuilding the 40, which was completed in June 1991. Now in excellent mechanical condition, the 40 has been returned to a more original appearance and currently serves the New Hope and Ivyland as its only operating steam locomotive.
(From the New Hope and Ivyland website)

/Mitch

Does anyone know what the road #s for 7 and 9 were when still in Army service?

VBR No. 7 was originally US Army No. 4061 (blt Lima 1944).
VBR No. 9 was built as US Army 4023 (ALCO 1942). While at Ft. Eustis, 4023 was renumbered 616.
An image or No. 7 is attached showing the engine in green boiler jacketing paint while being readied for an NRHS excursion at Piney River, VA, May 19, 1957.

From the Whippany Railway Museum website:

"After the VBR converted to diesel power, Nos. 7 & 9 were the last steam engines to leave the property. No. 9 had been sold to Steam Trains, Inc. (which was made up of a group of Pennsylvania businessmen and rail enthusiasts) in late-1963. At the same time, No. 7 was privately sold to a Mr. Stout of Charleroi, PA, one of the founders of Steam Trains, but the engines never left Piney River. In June 1966 Steam Trains transferred the title to No. 9 over to their new subsidiary, New Hope & Ivyland Railroad (NH&I) in New Hope, PA. Both engines were ultimately shipped to New Hope, and plans were made to operate No. 9 in excursion service, where the locomotive would retain its VBR number. No. 7's owner however, was forced out of the company in 1967 and the engine was then stored on a back siding in New Hope for several years.

In 1970, No. 7 was sold to yet another private individual, who, like the person before him, did not have a good relationship with the NH&I management. As the 1970's progressed, the locomotive could be found sitting derelict on a remote siding in the woods between Lahaska and Buckingham Valley, PA. It was during this time that various parts and appliances began to disappear from the engine.

In June 1976, the owner of No. 7 directed his attorney to sell the locomotive to the Menair-Fetzer Company with the provision that No. 7 had to be scrapped and not resold as a “complete locomotive” that could be restored. A private agreement was made between the Menair-Fetzer Company and Jimmy McHugh (who was president the NH&I at the time) for No. 7's driving wheels, complete running gear, driving boxes, throttle, air compressor and reversing gear. The McHugh Company then supplied a crane for the disassembly of No. 7. The parts to be saved were weighed and then scrap iron of the same weight was loaded into two Conrail gondolas along with the remains of No. 7 to make up the gross scrap weight needed. Most of the rescued parts were used on No. 9 when it was rebuilt in 1976.

The sole reason for No. 7's unfortunate scrapping was because the private owner could not afford to make the necessary repairs to the locomotive to have it moved off the NH&I and he also did not want the NH&I (or anyone else for that matter) to have it as an operating locomotive."
http://www.whippanyrailwaymuseum.net/vi ... way-page-5

The photo above of a green jacketed Virginia Blue Ridge #7, illustrates the obvious differece between the Alco and Lima U.S. Army 0-6-0's. The Lima's had a single large sand dome ahead of the steam dome as on number 7, whereas the Alco's had smaller sand domes both in front of and behind the steam dome. The first photo in this thread of Alco built VBR #9 is a good example. Also please note as Whippany states, the Lima engines were built in 1944 whereas the Alco's were constructed in 1942.

Les

VBR 7's Monthly Locomotive Inspection and Repair Report for June, 1966 states "Out of service at Piney River, Va. from 3/1/63 account of Repairs and will not be used until inspection is made and report filed, Date June 30, 1966 at Piney River, Va." However, the Credits on Back are 1962 Nov., then every month from 1963 Jan. through 1966 Jun.
I have scanned it, but I can't paste it in this message. I could send it by E-mail or fax to anyone interested.

One of Don Ball's books in my collection shows 0-6-0 #614 at Fort Eustis. According to Don Ross' website, it was originally "#4018, and was built by Schenectady in October, 1942, #70394. It was renumbered 614 in 1954. It was planned to display it at Fort Eustis, but it is not on the list at the museum."

What became of it?

J. David's Steam Locomotive Directory lists the 614 as one of four Army steam locomotives scrapped at Newport News, VA, circa 1966.

Alan Maples