McHugh Locomotive & Equipment / MRME, Inc. has released photos of nearly complete SW-1 No. 8408. This 1940 former B&O SW-1 was purchased by the Wilmington & Western in 1982 when they bought the 10.2 miles remaining of the original W&W from Chessie System.

No. 8408's restoration has been a multi-year process and there are only a few little thing left to be done. A complete story on her restoration will be coming to a publication near you.

If you really like what you see, consider supporting the W&W. This restoration has cost more than many steam locomotive restorations and we can't keep doing these sort of projects without your support. J.C. McHugh and his lovely wife Ann have donated some very nice extras, without their amazing support this project would not be where it is today.

The money you spend on gas and Burger King driving down to see her is probably less than membership. Membership in the W&W is $35, you can send a check with a note with your contact information to:
Wilmington & Western RR
P.O. Box 5787
Wilmington, DE 19808

More information on McHugh Locomotive & Crane can be found at mchughlocomotive.com. Photos are courtesy of J.C. McHugh.

To go along with the newly-restored SW-1 No. 8408 the night shift at the Marshallton Shop of the W&W have been hard at work on B&O caboose C-2013. Here is a sneak peek at what you might find coupled to No. 8408.

Hi
Nice Job ,,Pat

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: MUCHO BUENO SABOR !!!!

Tom,

Was 8408 used by Chessie on the branch when the line was purchased?

Wesley

Tom, that's absolutely amazing!

I have always loved 114, and now she has an equally stunning stablemate.

You guys are doing amazing work.

Although many different units were used, I understood that the 208/8408 was, at least on paper, assigned to the Landenburg Branch (route of the W&W) when built, though it was not often used specifically for the line.

I may be wrong.....

You better keep this one inside between runs!

No worries. They store their entire fleet of operating excursion equipment indoors, as they have been doing for 50 years - locos, coaches, cabooses, etc.

Two track, 500 foot long storage building plus the recently built restoration shop.

One of the few operations out there that can do so.

The ONLY diesel power permitted on the line, according to B&O/Chessie employee timetables, was either SW1's or Alco S-series switchers, and though I have seen photo evidence of several B&O SW1's, including 8408, operating on the line, I've never seen photos of an Alco on the line until Rohm & Haas S2 #3 (former B&O 9115) showed up around 1983; said loco is now at the West Chester RR.

Count another one up for an outstanding restoration. Simply outstanding!

No. 8408 was in use on the line when the W&W purchased her with the line in 1982. There have been stories told that she was purchased by the B&O for the line and operated there for her entire life but those are incorrect. I have been through her file a number of times since we took ownership of her in 1982 and found no such evidence. In fact, she was built in 1940 and photos of the regular B&O ten-wheelers show steam was in use for almost 10 years after her purchase. During the post-steam era photos show a number of SW-1s on the line.

From 1982 until the summer of 1985 we operated her with full Chessie paint. Neither Chessie or the W&W seemed to care about painting out Chessie on the purchase.

Here are some additional photos of No. 8408 under restoration. Photos are courtesy of J.C. McHugh. http://www.mchughlocomotive.com

Wow a simply amazing restoration job. I would hate to know the man hours spent and cost involved with that level or work.

A couple of more photos. The pilot has just been finished.