Hey there,
My father loves trains and would take us sightseeing as kids. He has Alzheimer’s now and we are making him a memory book. We are having trouble identifying one old steam locomotive and its location. This photo was taken c.1989 and I think it was in one of the northwestern US states. I’ve scoured steamlocomotive.com to no avail. Thanks so much for your help!
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I’m not an expert on steam locomotives, but I noticed that this one has brake shoes attached to the front of the driving wheels. This is called “Trailing” and I think it was adopted in North America by around 1900. 2-8-0 or 0-8-0…
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It seems clear that the builder’s number looks like 40876 (it is 48075) and if I’m not mistaken that is a Baldwin builder’s plate. I looked up that builders number in a catalog of Baldwin locomotives and it seems to indicate that works number belonged to a Georgia, Florida & Alabama 2-8-0 No. 204 built in November of 1913:
The above from: CONTENTdm
Later sold to Seaboard Air Line as their No. 924. Checking with the Loco Database they indicate that this particular engine was scrapped in October of 1949.
Guess I chased down the wrong rabbit hole?
I’ll see if I can find more…
After another deep and dark rabbit hole that led me to believe this was the Duluth & Northeastern #16 I’m now convinced your photo is the Fillmore & Western #14:
Fillmore and Western No. 14 by jbp274, on Flickr
Duluth & Northeastern #14 was moved to the Black Hills Central and the Dodge City, Ford & Bucklin Railroad, #14 was put up for sale in 1999. In 2000, the 2-8-0 was moved again to the Fillmore & Western to be restored to operation…
Cheers, Ed
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Athearn’s Old Time 2-8-0 in real life!
Wow this is so impressive… thanks so much for the prompt answer and the helpful info! Blessings on all of you. 
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Great effort on your part, Ed. Well done.
Rich
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