Anybody have any idea when production of 2-6-2 Prairies ended in North America?
Would it be plausible for a short/bridge line in the northeast to be operating “cast off” Prairies in the mid 1950s?
Thanks!
WHD
The California Western Railroad ran a lot of 2-6-2’s. It had one that it aquired second hand in 1939 and later resold in 1956–presumably in in working order.
The Milw, CB&Q & NP all had large fleets of ‘praries’ and used them well into the late 40’s and early 50’s. Cast off engines from these Class 1 roads would fit into your shortline scheme very well!
Jim Bernier
The SOO had only 10 of them, # 800-809 build in 1907. They were gone before 1953.
Jim
See: http://www.steamlocomotive.com/lists/USA.shtml
Yes, your scenario is reasonable. Some 2-6-2 locomotives are still operating.
4 2-6-2 4’-8½" Fairch & NE Laona & Northern, Laona, WI operational
104 2-6-2T 4’-8½" PT Black Hills Central Railroad, Hill City, SD operational
7 2-6-2 4’-8½" P&NW Black Hills Central Railroad, Hill City, SD operational
108 2-6-2 4’-8½" A&NR Blacklands Railroad, Church St., Sulphur Springs, TX restoration from Reader, AR later North Conway, NH
9 2-6-2 4’-8½" Amador Central (MCR) National Railroad Museum, Green Bay, WI operational from the Kettle Moraine Railway
I don’t know about stats on it, but you can check out my web site. I have pics of one at a museum close to my house. (The Lynville loco page)
‘DEATH VALLEY SCOTTY’ 2-6-2 is on display at the Sacramento RR Museum. Supposedly one of the engines used in setting a US land speed record
Oriiginally 2-6-2 #1010 Passenger engine.
Modified to an 0-6-0
Rebuilt by Santa Fe to 2-6-2 oil burner.
Donated to Sac. museum.
The Illinois Railroad Museum used to operate a small 2-6-2 that until the 1960s had been in regular operation at the Tuskeegee Institute, presumably to take coal to the power plant. Northwestern Steel & Wire in Sterling Illinois was running steam locomotives into the early 1980s – those were ex Grand Trunk 0-8-0s, but before that I believe they used CB&Q praries – at least that was the photograph on their visitor’s release form (yep you walked to main office, signed a release, and were free to photograph their steam locomotives to your heart’s content. The day I was there 3 or 4 big 0-8-0s were in full operation, chuffing, whistling, chugging … doing interchange with the CNW where SD40-s went by pulling freights.)
Dave Nelson
Absolutely! If your pike is a fictional short line, then most anything you want to do is “proptotype”. As has already been said, 2-6-2s operated on several lines right up to the end of steam. Like the Mikes, Prairies were a do whatever was needed loco and were used on frieghts and the occasional passenger run.