Another Missing 0-4-0T

steaminfo · **Posted:** Wed Feb 07, 2018 7:12 am

As recently as 1993 there were reports of an H.C. Frick Coke Co. 0-4-0T (H.K. Porter 7998 of 1946) operational at the Shoaf Coke Plant in Fairchance, PA. By 2008, it was reported as being stored in "excellent condition" in a structure at the plant. Later that year it was offered for sale on railswap.org.

Now, the structure is reportedly gone, and the locomotive nowhere to be seen. Any ideas where it might be?

Richard Glueck · **Posted:** Wed Feb 07, 2018 9:30 am

Perhaps Elon Musk shot it to Mars? ;-)

Kelly Anderson · **Joined:** Tue Sep 14, 2004 7:52 am **Posts:** 2477

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2872

I haven't found anything on the Porter, but a group rescued a Plymouth out of that complex about six years ago (I recall seeing something about the Plymouth on RyPN):

http://americanindustrialmining.com/sho ... eservation

I doubt they have the Porter, or they would have featured it prominently on their website, but I would bet they would know something about it. I am attempting to make contact to see if they have any leads.

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2872

Spoke to Pete Jedlicka of the American Industrial Mining Co preservation group, he says the Porter sat in the same building as the Plymouth and was fired up for the family of the private individual who owns it up until a few years before they rescued the Plymouth. The private individual, whom they are in contact with, relocated it to either North Carolina or South Carolina a few years before they rescued the Plymouth, he is digging up the exact information so you can update the listing and will get it to me when he does. He also said that almost everything is still in place at the Shoaf Coke Plant, 46 years after it closed. Here is a video of it two years before it closed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cfa2TFhKuE

Tom Davidson · **Joined:** Sun Dec 29, 2013 6:07 pm **Posts:** 203

Is there any hope that the C&O hopper car at Shoaf can be saved? It's a twin offset alternate standard design with oval heap shields. I saw it several months ago and it was in rough, but savable condition. C&O had thousands of similar cars, but this may be the only one still in existence.

Tom

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2872

Tom Davidson wrote:

Is there any hope that the C&O hopper car at Shoaf can be saved? It's a twin offset alternate standard design with oval heap shields. I saw it several months ago and it was in rough, but savable condition. C&O had thousands of similar cars, but this may be the only one still in existence.

Tom

I agree about its significance, I will ask about it if I get the chance.

steaminfo · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:10 am

PMC wrote:

Spoke to Pete Jedlicka of the American Industrial Mining Co preservation group, he says the Porter sat in the same building as the Plymouth and was fired up for the family of the private individual who owns it up until a few years before they rescued the Plymouth. The private individual, whom they are in contact with, relocated it to either North Carolina or South Carolina a few years before they rescued the Plymouth, he is digging up the exact information so you can update the listing and will get it to me when he does. He also said that almost everything is still in place at the Shoaf Coke Plant, 46 years after it closed. Here is a video of it two years before it closed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cfa2TFhKuE

Any further word on this? I am updating the site this week and collided with this one, again.

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

PMC wrote:

Tom Davidson wrote:

Is there any hope that the C&O hopper car at Shoaf can be saved? It's a twin offset alternate standard design with oval heap shields. I saw it several months ago and it was in rough, but savable condition. C&O had thousands of similar cars, but this may be the only one still in existence.

Tom

I agree about its significance, I will ask about it if I get the chance.

Would also like current info on the C&O hopper car there at Shoaf. Is it still there? Available for donation?

Les

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2872

From an old post on AOTT that was updated today, it was seen at the corner of Sawtelle and National in West LA last August 26, 2023. Charles Freericks photo: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AOTTORC ... 6080918158

NS 3322 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 03, 2024 8:58 pm

PMC wrote:

From an old post on AOTT that was updated today, it was seen at the corner of Sawtelle and National in West LA last August 26, 2023. Charles Freericks photo: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AOTTORC ... 6080918158

It is parked behind SK Gasoline in December 2023 Streetview:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0268634 ... &entry=ttu

PMC · **Joined:** Sat Oct 17, 2015 5:55 pm **Posts:** 2872

NS 3322 wrote:

It is parked behind SK Gasoline in December 2023 Streetview:
https://www.google.com/maps/@34.0268634 ... &entry=ttu

Well, it likely won't get much rain in LA, so that's a plus.

I wonder what happened to the 60 ton 3 axle Plymouth diesel that also was at Shoaf Coal and Coke, there isn't any mention of it on the American Industrial Mining Co. Museum website after 2012 or so. https://americanindustrialmining.com/sh ... eservation