Whitehall Railway Co.

[van buren s l]

Recently I read a book titled " The Baldwin Locomotive Works 1831-1915 ". On page 122 there is a picture of a three foot gauge electric motor clearly lettered for the Whitehall Railway Company. Does anyone know any thing about the railway? I've been all over the net to get some information and have come up empty handed. There have been hits on sites where the word Whitehall does appear, but it is always in conjunction with another name, such as Brattleboro and Whitehall Railroad. The possibility that there may have been a narrow guage ,freight -hauling traction line intrigues me. If such a line existed, especially in the East, I could switch to 1:20.3 in a heart beat. In the past I have shied away from narrow gauge because it has always been peddled with a western theme and I prefer my home turf.

Bob the Chauvinist

[Capt Bob Johnson]

two thoughts of conjecture. 1. Could it have been predecessor to Brattleboro & Whitehall through merger or takeover? 2. Could it have been early line serving Whitehall in lower Manhattan, later eaten up by trolley or subway lines?

[van buren s l]

Captain Bob
Thank you for your reply. I have a sneaking suspicion that your second suggestion is right. I believe that I read some years ago a mention of such a line in New York. Maybe I should check some of the web sights about the industrial history of New York. Thanks again for your suggestion.
Bob

[Anonymous]

Hi Bob,
Caught my interest with this one. I've seen a few entries on the web which actually state Whitehall Railway Co in the title but there's nothing in there when you go in. I'm going to keep looking, it's in there somewhere.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

Just found reference to the 'Whitehall Railway Company' via a chap called John Robert Davis who was a director of said company in the late 1800's. The company was placed in Whitehall Illinois, I don't know whether this was a steam line but may well be tied in with one of his other ventures the Whitehall Sewer Pipe & Stoneware Company. Keep looking!

[cacole]

A Google search turns up a Whitehall Railway in Canada, too.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Kimbrit,
Might check and see if there was a RR that serviced that part of London from which the Royal Navy was run! Maybe Baldwin exported back to the birthplace!

[Anonymous]

Hi Bob,
You're right about Baldwin exporting to the UK, they supplied the 'Lynton & Barnstable Railway' in the 1930's with a 2-4-2 side tank narrow guage loco. The UK builders couldn't supply within a reasonable time so Baldwin stepped in! There is mention of quite a few tramways serving Whitehall in London but not with electric loco's. I don't know why this has captured my imagination to be honest because I have no real interest in electric traction, life is strange.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

Is anyone aware that Whitehall actually started right here in Queensland.

Rgds Ian

[van buren s l]

Thanks for your input guys. One important piece of information that I left out of my origional post was that the motor was built in 1904. Every time I find a likely reference it falls apart because date, gauge and traction don't come together. I'll keep plugging away. Perhaps some additional trips to some libraries might help. Thanks again.
Bob

[Anonymous]

Bob,
Is there any way you can e-mail the picture to me.My address is in my profile.
Troy