Is there a colorful story behind the term “Minaret” for a 2-8-2T Mikado type steam engine? Are all Minarets 2-8-2T and all 2-8-2T Minarets? There are several of the animals alive and at least one under steam at the Mt Ranier Scenic Railway in Elbe WA, about 30 miles from my house, but no one seems to know the answer.
I have searched the internet, and all of my references to no avail, including an original 1947 Loco Cyclopedia.
Thanks
Paul
Yes indeed, the 2-8-2T 's Minarets are not an “officially” recocnized loco type like a Pacific or an Mikado, they were more of a “Hot Rod” type creation for the westrn logging railroads that wanted the wieght and pulling power of a large engine like a Mike but without the tender, the Tank versions of all engines are often still referred to as if they are a tender engine, IOW a 2-8-2T would still be offically be called a Mikado, the Minaret name was given to it by the operators. Though i dont know where it came from, I would contact the Mt Rainier RR and ask them that specific question, if anyone knew it would be them.
A great book on the subject your interested in is titled “Rails to the Minarets” - The Story of the Sugar Pine Lumber Company by Hank Johnston. The Minarets and Western Railway and their subsidary, SPLCo, was located just north of Fresno, California. The SPLCo was active from the 1920’s till the 1930’s. During their existence, the SPLCo operated four 2-8-2T’s and one 2-10-2T style locomotives produced by ALCO; these were nicknamed “Minarets” type locomotives.
I am not sure, but think “Minarets” was used as a marketing name by Alco. Pete Replinger of Shleton WA has one. Ask the guys at Mr. Rainer how to get ahold of him.
Mac McCulloch
V. Smith
A 44" driver rod loco is a “hot rod” only in comparison to a Shay or Willamette!
Mac
True, very true!
The Minarets are a group of very high, incredibly steep mountains (looking more like church spires) in the eastern Sierra Nevada in California, near Mt. Ritter and Mt. Banner. Fresno is about 75 miles from them, but some of the logging lines could quite possibly have been near them. I have no evidence that this is the root of the locomotive name, but it’s just a thought.
Sincerely,
Daniel Parks
P.S. What would be wrong with the tender–it would decrease axle loadings???
I have lots of time on my hands these days, so thought this to be an interesting thread. I pulled down my copy of “Rails to the Minarets” and looked up the answer.
This from page 38 of Hank Johnston’s “Rails to the Minarets”
“In 1927, Alco delivered an even larger saddle tanker, the 2-10-2T (No. 5), which both the manufacturer and SPL {Suger Pine Lumber} did call the ‘Minarets,’ in honor of the Minarets and Western Railway, even though the locomotive was used almost exclusively on the SPL main line from Bass Lake to Centeral Camp. The engine had larger drivers (48 inch) and greater tractive power than the smaller 2-8-2T’s, and was never duplicated by either ALCO or any other manufacturer”
Privous to the above the the author states that the 2-8-2Ts where never refered to by ALCO or SPL as “Minarets.” The only Minarets type locomotive, SPL No 5, the 2-10-2T was scrapped by H. J. Kaiser during 1947.
JIm