How were locomotives delivered from the manufactuer to the customer in the age of steam? Specifically what if a western road like the SP that had no connection to Philly where Baldwin was located get their locomotives? Were they simply put on the head end of a train and moved West? If that was the case did the railroads operating the locomotive enroute have to pay SP for use of the loco? And how is it done today?
Dave
I would also like to know how it is done… sounds intersting.
The locomotives were pretty much put at the head of the train - often with the side rods detached. One spetacular shipment was the “Prosperity Special” where the SP had some 20 locomotives delivered in one train.
Baldwin shipped via the local road, at the head of the train or a whole train, along with a delivery man who would supervise the installation of side rods and other items packed in he cabs for safe shipment. the delivery man road in the cab,or one of the cabs in a temp. shelter to the destination.In the case of narrow gauge engines they were shipped on a Baldwin flat car loaded at the factory.Get a hold of the History of the Balbwin Locomotive Works its facinating reading to learn what it was like to work in the late 19TH and early 20th centuries, and how companies viewed there workers.
even without the side rods, the cellers and the journals would need to be refilled at about every stop. with side rods, it would take a full wipe-around - rods, linkages, cellers, and journals. on most locomotives that takes about 20 to 30 minutes so putting the dead engine near the head of the train would facilitate the delivery man communicating with the operating crew.
dd
Even with a temporary shelter for the company representative riding in the cab of the new locomotive the ride must have been mighty cold in the winter months. I wonder if they had a small heater of some sort in the “cold” for this guy (sorry ladies but we all know the reps would have been 100% male at this point in history).
Locomotives, back in the day, and now are normally shipped as Revenue Freight, between the builders location and the nearest junction with the destination carrier with freight charges due. There are waybills and freight bills rendered on the shipment. Either the bulder or receiver will make arrangements and pay the charges for a Rider if one is necessary to tend to the shipment, there are tarriff charges that apply to Rider’s that accompany shipment and there are a number of shipments moving all the time that have Riders accompanying them.
Like wise, new freight cars moving from their manufacturer to their owners are moved on Revenue billing between the two points.