Plymouth Cordage

bobyar2001 · **Posted:** Mon Dec 25, 2006 10:52 am

There are several compressed air locomotives extant from a company called Plymouth Cordage. I never knew much about it, so looked the company up on Yahoo. This site has some history and old photos, plus plans on saving the original plant in Massachusetts:

http://www.plymouthcordagemuseum.org/index.html

One of the locomotives used as a lawn ornament in Canada:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=167425

survivingworldsteam · **Posted:** Tue Dec 26, 2006 2:06 pm

Are the two Plymouth Coradage compressed air locomotives (built by Baldwin as 4065/1887 and 57555/1923) still at the Edaville site; if not, where are they now? They are the only two Baldwin-built compressed air locomotives I have encountered; although ten Baldwin fireless locomotives are in Cuba (or were until recently.)

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project

Ron Muldowney · **Posted:** Tue Dec 26, 2006 8:31 pm

Bob, Many thanks for posting this information. I have had a builder's plate in my collection for about 30 years from the Plymouth Cordage Company. I never really knew much about the operation. I knew that they had compressed air locomotives. I have Baldwin Burnham Williams & Co. #13713 dated September 1893 from 0-4-0 named "Airy." It is a small 7-3/4" round plate. It is very interesting to put the information together. They must have had a fairly good roster of locomotives. This is why this is such a great site for the serious collectors and historians.

survivingworldsteam · **Posted:** Tue Dec 26, 2006 8:47 pm

Here are pictures of the two Baldwin-built compressed air locomotives from Plymouth Cordage at the Edaville Railroad:

http://parkengines.railfan.net/MA/images/pages/PC1.html

http://parkengines.railfan.net/MA/images/pages/PC5.html

I also found the following quote from a webpage at http://users.tinyworld.co.uk/ainskip/Th ... PartII.htm:

Quote:

One of the first compressed air locomotives to be put into successful operation was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Plymouth Cordage Company, of North Plymouth, Mass. The locomotive, one of small size, having a single tank and cylinders 5 by 10 inches, was ordered in 1876 and placed in service in April, 1877. It was used for general switching purposes and to transfer material from the storehouse to the factory, taking the place of four one-horse teams, with three men to each team.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Project