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Potomac Edison 0-4-0T No. 1

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Potomac Edison 0-4-0T No. 1
Posted by ACY Tom on Sunday, January 18, 2015 10:19 AM

I have been trying, without success, to find out what happened to this locomotive, and whether she still exists.

Built by Vulcan December, 1918, const. no. 2886. First owner was W.B. Callihan (sp?) Construction Co. of Columbus, Ohio (number 1).  Sold to Potomac Edison, date unknown (believed to be early 1920's).  Potomac Edison number 1.  In use at the R. Paul Smith power station, Williamsport, Maryland, ca. 1927 or earlier.  Last fired in 1964.

Advertised for sale ca. September, 1971.  Sold to unknown party, date unknown.  David Conrad's book says ca. 1980.

After that, the engine seems to have fallen out of sight.  I suspect I know what happened nextSad, but I hope somebody has better news.

Tom

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Posted by tomikawaTT on Monday, January 26, 2015 5:25 PM

Apparently it didn't fall too far.  "Potomac Electric Power Co. 0-4-0 #1, display, B&O Railroad Museum."

Chuck

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Posted by ACY Tom on Monday, January 26, 2015 5:38 PM

Chuck:

Thanks for your interest.  You got my heart rate up there for a minute, but unfortunately it's a different loco, evidently from a different plant.  The engine at the B&O Museum is a fireless engine built by Heisler.  They also have a conventional 0-4-0t, but it came from St. Elizabeth's Hospital, and is not the engine I'm looking for.

Again, thanks for the effort.

Tom 

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Posted by rfpjohn on Monday, January 26, 2015 6:26 PM

There is a saddle tank 0-4-0T encased in a blue tarp adjacent to the CSX mainline, just east of the Macon street underpass, at the west end of Bay View yard in Baltimore. It sits in a lot of what appears to be an old paving company where some fellows run an auto repair business. Severe winds a few years back pealed the tarp off so that the little loco could be seen. It has slide valve cylinders, the saddle tank covers to the front of the smokebox and there is no coal bunker behind the cab. I assume fuel was stashed on the left side of the cab, as was typical in engines of this size. The smokebox front is missing, but the headlight and turbogenerator are still in place. The engine is painted with primer and really doesn't appear to worse for wear. Whoever owns it evidently cares about it, as the tarp was soon replaced and securely banded. I don't know if this could be your engine or if it's just another of the thousands of tank engines employed over the years. At least it's in the area!

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Posted by ACY Tom on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 10:26 AM

This sounds promising.  I'm not too familiar with that area of Baltimore.  Is this in the area around Kresson Street?  Can you help me locate it on the map?  Sure do appreciate your interest.

Tom 

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Posted by rfpjohn on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 11:52 AM

Yes. If you take Kresson Street north from Pulaski Highway, Macon Street vears off to the right at the intersection of Kresson, Eager and Macon. Looking at Google earth view, it looks as though you could go east on Eager, right behind the engine. As far as where public property and private begin/end, I can't tell you. Might be a bit of a dicey area. If you look at the sattelite view, the engine sits on the southside of a building, the duller blue of two tarps. I've only ever seen it from the railroad.

Good luck and be careful!

 

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Posted by ACY Tom on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 1:16 PM

Thanks!  This looks very promising!

Before going down to Baltimore to check it out, I intend to contact some local people in the Hagerstown/Williamsport area.  Currently, weather has shut everything down.  But this is a lead that begs to be pursued.

Tom

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Posted by ACY Tom on Friday, February 6, 2015 5:59 PM

Today I was able to check out the little engine in Baltimore.  It's there, and the folks there said the owner wants to preserve it and possibly operate it in the future.  However, it is a Porter engine; not the Vulcan that we're seeking.  So the search continues.........

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Posted by SusanKY on Friday, June 28, 2024 2:49 PM

Hi Tom, 

From the early 1990s, this Vulcan locomotive was owned by the Kenova (WV) Historical Commission and on display at its location on 23rd Street, Kenova, West Virginia.  It was just sold into private ownership and moved Ravenna, Kentucky, for restoration to operating condition.  Could you share some photos of this locomotive when it was operating, or do you have any stories about it?  

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