celebrating a 100th birthday in central New York

Celebrating a 100th birthday in Central New York is Davenport c/n 961, class of 1910. The 24 inch gauge locomotive operates on the Mohawk Valley Line, located at Erie Canal Village in Rome, NY. The 12 ton sidetanker is an 0-4-0, which only shows that both the meek and the mighty have birthdays. While the fireman is oiling, the cast of Victorian Fair helps with the celbration. Note Sherlock Holmes is on the case at the rear right.

At present the spry oldster is burning coal on weekends.

c/n 961 was built by Davenport in 1910, and was sold to the Winston Brothers of Westfield, Wisconsin. They were a regular Davenport customer and 961 was their 16th Davenport. Eventually they sold 16 to a mine in Idaho where it worked into the late 1940s. Instead of being scrapped it was sold to Dr. William Willock who had the locomotive overhauled by the Murray Brothers of Davenport, Iowa. Dr. Willock had the saddle tank replaced with side tanks and operated the 16 on his Indian Valley RR at Syosett, NY. Eventually the locomotive went to Frontiertown near Lake George, NY. In 2003 number 16 was shopped in Watertown, NY where repairs were made to the running gear and missing parts were replaced. The boiler was inspected and some minor repairs made by Mack Brothers of Syracuse, NY. A new cab was made by River Marine of Cape Vincent, NY.

Joined by a replica combine and coach built in 2004, number 16 introduces steam railroading to 21st century, giving 3.5 mile excursions alongside the historic Erie Canal.






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/23/2010 08:07AM by stevejb123.