Steam under water

[Ham549]

I heard rumors about some rare steam locomotives that somehow sunk in a lake or something. Is this True? If so what kind of locomotive? Why hasn’t anyone bothered to raise it?

[exPalaceDog]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ham549

I heard rumors about some rare steam locomotives that somehow sunk in a lake or something. Is this True? If so what kind of locomotive? Why hasn’t anyone bothered to raise it?

The Old Dog remembers seeing a TV program about this subject some time ago. It mentioned three locomotives someplace off the Atlantic coast.

But if you really want steam under water, you might look up the British K-Class submarines from WW I.

Have fun

[Anonymous]

Yes there are dozens of lost Locomotives from pre-1900 underwater. it was typical to load locomotives on the decks of ships, when a storm hit, the load sometimes shifted and the captain either opted to dump the deck loads for balance, or they were thrown overboard by the weather.

As for why they weren't raised, some have been and been partially restored, but after 100+ years there really is no reason to raise them, as most of the metal is long rusted away and what's left is very fragile.

[miniwyo]

Yea, I believe there were 2 of them, they were supposedly brand new 2-2-2s Saw it on The National Geographic Channel.

[samfp1943]

QUOTE: Originally posted by miniwyo

Yea, I believe there were 2 of them, they were supposedly brand new 2-2-2s Saw it on The National Geographic Channel.

He has the info right. The two engines were supposedly deck cargo on a ship that lost them over the side in a storm, both engines were brand new 2-2-2's, something like twenty miles off the coast of New Jersey.

[mersenne6]

There are a number of engines from the 1850's period and before on the bottom of Lake Erie. They were lost during lake storms during that time. None were ever salvaged so if you happen to have a ready source of funding you might want to consider looking for them - at least they are in down in cold fresh water as opposed to salt. There was an article about these engines in R&LHS by John White a few years ago.

[CShaveRR]

Don't forget the newly-built steam locomotive ordered from abroad by the New York, Susquehanna & Western, lost overboard in a storm before it ever got here. It was subsequently replaced. That other magazine has a running gag about it.

[rrnut282]

The granddaddy of all stories of "sunken locomotives" has to be the story of the remnants of the Russian court fleeing the advancing army of Napoleon. They piled all the gold and jewels on a train and headed east, hoping a russian winter would do to Napolean what the Russian Army couldn't. As the story goes, they laid temporary tracks across the frozen surface of Lake Baykl to save time. They never made it to the other side. There's a hefty bonus for finding this old sunken steamer.

Locally, there are rumors of a Pennsy Atlantic or Pacific that derailed into the swamps west of Fort Wayne circa 1890 and were never retrieved. I'm sure almost every locataion has a similar story that is recounted with a few minor detail changes.

[espeefoamer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CShaveRR

Don't forget the newly-built steam locomotive ordered from abroad by the New York, Susquehanna & Western, lost overboard in a storm before it ever got here. It was subsequently replaced. That other magazine has a running gag about it.

IIRC ,that NYS&W engine was not lost overboard. The ship hauling it sank with the engine aboard.

[Kurn]

The two 2-2-2's were probably built by Seth Wilmarth of Boston for the Cumberland Valley RR. They share a lot of features with the road's Pioneer(now in the Smithsonian),although they are somewhat larger.Some historical society in Jersey wants to raise them,but I don't know if any plans or progress has been made.

[Trailryder]

info about 2 steam engines (1850s circa) off the coast of New Jersey
http://www.cdnn.info/industry/i040919a/i040919a.html
the above info is dated September 19, 2005

later
Bill

[trainboyH16-44]

Also on the British Columbia Railway, on Seton and Anderson lakes, rockslides have driven locomotives into the lake, and I believe that there might still be a couple down there.

[Tulyar15]

There are known to be a number of shipwrecks off the British Isles with all sorts of locos from varying periods. So far no-one has tried to raise any of these.

[mhurley87f]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrnut282

The granddaddy of all stories of "sunken locomotives" has to be the story of the remnants of the Russian court fleeing the advancing army of Napoleon. They piled all the gold and jewels on a train and headed east, hoping a russian winter would do to Napolean what the Russian Army couldn't. As the story goes, they laid temporary tracks across the frozen surface of Lake Baykl to save time. They never made it to the other side. There's a hefty bonus for finding this old sunken steamer.

I think you need to check your dates, here, mate !!

[spbed]

Yes it has been posted here before. Check back in the archives to find the thread. They are in the drink 70 miles east of Long Branch NJ. If I remember correctly they are 2-2-2s [:o)]

Originally posted by Ham549

Living nearby to MP 186 of the UPRR  Austin TX Sub

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