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Got a pic. Steam eng. Identity unknown

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Got a pic. Steam eng. Identity unknown
Posted by nhrasg on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 11:20 AM

Can anyone tell what this might be called. It was used for switching in the NP tie plant in Brainerd MN. I have never saw a "hump" on the boiler like this. Thanks Jeff

                                         NP Steam Loco in Brainerd MN

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Posted by Beach Bill on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 7:08 PM

I believe that would be called a home-built saddle tank.  It appears that a conventional 0-6-0 switcher was modified for in-plant use.  The tank astride the boiler held water, and thus the locomotive could operate without a tender.  Clearly, the "range" of such a locomotive is limited, and they have to stay realtively close to a water supply, but that isn't an issue around the yard.  I've seen photos of some other major railroads that did the same thing to create a roundhouse switcher.   I don't have much information in my library, but I found a photo (page 133) in Charles Wood's The Northern Pacific: Main Street of the Northwest of a very similar 0-6-0 #6, used as a shop goat in South Tacoma.   Perhaps there is a NP fan out there with more specific information.

Bill

With reasonable men, I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter, nor waste arguments where they will certainly be lost. William Lloyd Garrison
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Posted by nhrasg on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 8:49 PM
I think I bought that same book on e-bay the other day. I'll have to look when it gets here. Thanks for the Info. It was used in the tie plant that was in west Brainerd for years. Now I have to figure out how to model that. New to this since childhood. Thanks again. Jeff
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Posted by scottychaos on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 8:58 PM

yep, its a saddle tank, a small tank for holding water.  And I agree with Bill that it was most likely home-built. (built by the railroads home shop)

Scot 

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Posted by nhrasg on Tuesday, July 10, 2007 9:03 PM
Very cool. Thanks for the info. Jeff
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Posted by Jeff Terry on Saturday, July 14, 2007 9:02 PM

That's Northern Pacific Shop Switcher No. 10, seen when she was on display at Brainerd.  She's now at the Iron Horse Central Railroad Museum near Chisago City, Minnesota.  Don't call her No. 10 anymore, though.  She's being restored back to how she looked as Northern Pacific 927.  Check out www.ironhorsecentral.com for more information (click on "NP L-4 927").

Jeff Terry

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Posted by tomikawaTT on Saturday, July 14, 2007 9:26 PM

Thanks for the link, Jeff.  The old lady has quite a history.

IMHO, this is rather like 'restoring' the main concourse at Grand Central by removing the big Kodak display.  Seems to me that they are 'restoring' a really unusual piece of equipment by converting it back into a cookie-cut model that Baldwin produced for anyone who could afford their catalog price back in 1896.  Oh, well...

Chuck

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