I recently saw a Davenport Locomotive at the East Broad Top RR that came from the Clairton Works, a U. S. Steel, facility. It has a very low center cab, the engineers seat being at the approximate height of the loco’s frame. You actually step down into it from the side walkway, and the cab is no higher than the hoods. A friend said he had seen one like it at the South Works in Gary,In. There is none like it on the Northeast Railfan site. As it also has a spacer platform on either side I’m sure it was used for moving bottle cars around at the steel mills. Does anyone have any info? Thx bob@osd
I googled “EBT Davenpot locomotive - photo” and came up with THIS. Click on “Details” for photos and more info.
Wayne
Since Clairton is a coke works, I’ll bet it was used to unload the coke ovens, and the side with the corrugated steel was always facing the oven side. Interesting example of takign an otherwise ‘catalog’ locomotive and modifying it for a specific purpose.
–Randy
rrinker, no one seems to know much about this loco. Do you have any idea of it’s history? bob@osd
Did the link which I included in my reply not work for you? [%-)]
You may find more info HERE or HERE, and if these links don’t work, [;)] try googling “Davenport Locomotives”
Wayne
I had already seen the roster listing of the EBT and the wikipedia page, and I’m afraid I’d have to go through the appropriate boxes from the Davenport archives to get much further. The reason I am curious about this is that a volunteer at Steamtownn said the loco was originally on the EBT roster, not at any of the U. S. Steel locations, whereas the people at the EBT said it was saved from the scrap heap and brought there.It kind of makes you wonder. Also, the fellow that runs the NE Rails site is curious about it and would like a pic to add to the site. I took a couple, but it is very dark in the shed wher it is stored and the pics don’t show much detail. I was hoping someone might have a good pic to post. Thx bob@osd
I have a shot of this loco. when new. Hopefully, this will help.
How about these links from a Yahoo search?
http://www.spikesys.com/EBT/Loco/x4.html
A grey Davenport is called out.
http://www.dementia.org/~adams/ebt/1999jun5/99jun5thumb.html
http://www.dementia.org/~adams/ebt/1999jun5/carshop1-h.jpg
Same stuff though. I found a couple other references that said it came from a steel plant.
From a XLS document.
Self-Propelled Rail Equipment on the East Broad Top - Post 1956
USS #21 Davenport #3402 Hercules DFYD 50 tons blt June 1953 arrive sum/fall 1978
(USS Clairton PA)
Rich
I suppose stranger things have happened, but if it WAS built new for the EBT, why in the world would they paint it for US Steel Clairton Works? It makes far more sense that it was a USS loco that the EBT acquired later. And EBT would not have a use for the specialty heat protection measures applied to that loco, so it makes even LESS sense that it is an EBT original.
Not to take away fromt he fine work done at Steamtown, but I wouldn’t expect a volunteer there to be trained in knowing all about the history of the collection of OTHER museums.
–Randy
For those whop do not know how to copy and paste a URL. below is the clickable link to a document that will show a little about the history of this loco. This will open a application in your PC called, Microsoft Excel . The document is about the EBT locos.
If you use Open Office, it will open Calc.
This is a Spreadsheet document. You will need one of the above applications to read the document. If you cannot afford MIcrosift Office, download and install Open Office which is free. I have been using it for over six years.
http://www.railfanusa.com/ebt/post56.xls
Rich