I found this photo among some old papers and have no idea where it came from:
1xo9HYX
Naturally, there is no information on the back of the photo. All I can positively say about it is that it was taken long before I was born.
The locomotive in the photo is clearly Monongahela (MRY) 121, a 2-8-0 Consolidation. Based on the locomotive and the style of the passenger cars in the background, I'm guessing that the photo was taken sometime before World War I.
My little knowledge of the MRY tells me the photo was probably taken in the yard at Brownsville, PA where the MRY connected with the P&LE and PRR. That guess is based on the rather large (for the MRY) ash-pit in the foreground and the presence of passenger cars. I doubt the MRY would have had ash-pits south of Brownsville that were much more than a sheet of iron laid between the rails to protect the ties. Similarly, if the MRY had passenger service south of Brownsville, it was probably on a quick-turnaround basis; those coaches are likely to be P&LE cars waiting for their next trip toward Pittsburgh.
Can anyone shed more light on this photo or logically dispute my guesses?
ChuckAllen, TX
I would say that you have a good educated guess. It looks to be a 2-8-0 built around the turn of the last century. But there has to be a steam roster to get a better date. The R&LHS has quite a few early locomotive rosters. I would suggest you contact Librarian Cara Randall at the California State Railroad Museum where its archives are stored. I would also be looking for a special intererst group for the MRY, Perhaps there is one at Yahoo Groups?
Victor Baird
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Fort Wayne, Indiana
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