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The Mystery of the Heisler Logging Engine

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  • Member since
    February 2014
  • 2 posts
The Mystery of the Heisler Logging Engine
Posted by High Desert Railroader on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 1:18 AM

Pardon me, but I recently got my hands on a copy of Robert M. Hanft's excellent book about the Red River Lumber Company and it's railroad operations, and I've come upon an interesting picture of an unknown Heisler engine.

MarionorNotWhoknows004.jpg.html

Now I've been trying to research the lives and fates of the two Heisler engines that worked the Borate & Daggett Railroad for years now, and this engine I found does look a lot like the first one 'Marion,' but the photo claims that this was taken somewhere around Round Mountain, CA. I know one thing that this certainly ain't the 'Francis' due to this one having a shorter, straighter boiler than the 'Francis' and only having one dome, and my records and gathered data claims that the 'Marion' was not moved to Round Mountain, but to Aspgrove, OR to work for the Modoc Lumber Co. (later Forest Lbr Co., and then regauged to standard and rebuilt later around 1925).

This could well be either the 'Marion' or another Heisler locomotive that worked up at Round Mountain with the 'Francis.'

I live nowhere near Round Mountain nor Aspgrove to gather any information or clues from any expert, and seeing this fourm as the most widely used train forum on the internet, I might ask if someone could have any clues as to which engine this could be, and what became of it after the photo. Any information or suggestions you may have will be appreciated. Thank you very much for assisting a fellow railroad historian.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 16, 2014 3:35 PM

CoolI do not know the answer but am curious now as well?Geeked

Tags: fec

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