I recently came across this strange looking locomotive:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/qbpllid/5598002991/in/photostream
Looks like a steam tram built on a camelback! Any information about this locomotive?
Slowly building a layout since 2007!
This is what was known as an " inspection locomotive". Built for the RR officers to inspect the track and other assets of the rr that were inaccessible otherwise. I doubt they could pull more than 1 car and a small one at that. This is why the "cab" was so large, to give everyone a place to ride.
Other locos used in cities were built to look like a trolley or interurban car to avoid frighting horses. They look somewhat like the engine in the pic, but larger, as they are a full size locomotive. Neither lasted long. The inspection engines were found to be redundant, you can do the same job with a standard loco and pass car. They were so light that they were of no use otherwise. As the horses were replaced with autos the "shrouds" disappeared, as they were unnecessary and I think never worked anyway.
Tim
That locomotive was actually used on the S&NY when inspection trips were made up and down the line, and for a locomotive of that type, it was rather large. Most were 2-2-2s or 2-2-0s. This one was a 4-2-4.
Shame it wasn't preserved..................
The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.
-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.
I suspect these inspection cars were not popular with the "suits" for sitting on top of the boiler on a hot day.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.