Curious about the history of the M&G RR #97 2-6-0 that is at the Indiana RR Museum. I know it was used at Brown Lumber Co. at Brownville, Alabama in the early 70's. History and condition?

One of the best sources for finding out the corporate ownership of a locomotive is steamlocomotive.info. Their listing for the 97 is:

http://steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=482

The late Brad Miller of Mobile Fidelity had a recording of this Mogul and its incredible whistle. Almost made the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Hope that the whistle traveled with the engine and is still around. Just my opinion.

My friend Bill Johnson was one of, if not the last engineer on #97. I helped him and others run #208 (the other 2-6-0) until it's boiler showed it was "too tired" and we parked it about 1988. I think #97 last ran about 1985, more or less, at French Lick, IN.

#97 is beyond "tired". It is done. It needs a new boiler, or at least a whole rear end including firebox and outer sheets. The running gear is kaput. You name it, it needs it. #97's tender was used behind #208, as #208's original tender was never "restored".

#97 was a oil burner, and when at French Lick it was converted to coal. It's firebox is too narrow, with too little grate area to burn coal well, so firing it was tricky on a good day, to made enough steam. Additionally, it was a light engine, and could not handle a heavy tourist train.

As far as it's current condition? I have not seen it for several years, but think nothing has changed except it is missing it's smokestack?

Photos:
1) #97 at Ocean City, MD at the Ocean City Western, prior to French Lick.
2) #97 crew at French Lick, including volunteer train crew.
3) #208 with Bob Johnson and myself (pointing)

Thank you for sharing the pictures, Mark. I am sorry I never saw her run.

I am certainly not the only one here who devoured the Empire State Railway Museum's annual steam directory. #97 was always on my wish list of locomotives to ride behind. Unfortunately, she ran out of time before I was able to do any railfanning in the midwest.

She's certainly a looker for a little engine.

Rob

Mark,

Being an export model, I suspect #97 was designed to burn oil, but as far as I know it was always a coal fired engine; it certainly was at the Mobile & Gulf.

When I saw the engine last year it was looking a bit worse for wear, but I was assured that it was to receive a cosmetic restoration and be placed on display. With the casino resort developments in French Lick, the Indiana Railway Museum has a lot more resources at its disposal now and most of the junk has been cleaned up and a new shop facility built.

Alan Maples

Was the Ocean City Western train including #97 and coaches ever on the tracks of the Baltimore & Annapolis RR? I recall there was a very brief attempt to start a tourist line at that location.

Wesley

Number 97 was owned by the Indiana Railroad Museum of French Lick, but 2-6-0 # 208 was leased from a group in Texas. For a number of years, the owners planned to return the engine to Texas. Anything going on with that effort today?

Les

Wes,

The two CNJ coaches were stored briefly on the B&A but plans to operate there were shot down by the Maryland Public Service Commission after neighbors complained. The steam engine didn't travel up until after Historic Railroads had moved on to the Eastern Shore.

Alan

I wonder when those coaches went to the B&A. When I worked at the Maryland & Delaware RR in 1983-1984, they sat on a siding in Berlin, MD along with the ex-LV SW-1. They never moved during the time I was there.

Wayne -

The coaches were stored on the B&A circa 1970-1971, before moving to the PC Delmar yard. All the OCW equipment was refurbished at Delmar and then moved to Berlin. The coaches languished for years after the OCW quit and were finally scrapped by the M&D.

Alan

Bob Johnson was a fine gentleman with a vast knowledge of steam and railroading. He taught me everything I know about hand firing a locomotive, and that loco was # 97 at French Lick. Like so many old-head steam veterans he knew his craft and shared it with those younger and eager to learn. Those veterans learned from experience and taught many practices that weren’t in the books. Working with Bob around a steam locomotive or traction engine or sharing coffee while watching train videos in his living room are cherished memories.

According to the original slide that just crossed my desk here, that photo is of her at the Penn Central yard in Delmar, Del./Md. in June 1973, photographed by Walter Merkle, Baltimore Chapter NRHS member.

Just as insertion of sorts, this Mogul was a particular favorite of the late Ron Ziel. Ron expended a great deal of film on her. She has a distinctive outline, with her boiler sitting high above her frame.

Her appearance evokes memories of the Baldwin Moguls used on the Stewartstown RR, among other similar shortlines.

Tom