Re: Crown Metal Works/How Many 36"

Since I ran a couple of 36" Crowns during college, it has become a bit of a hobby trying to find where they are today. As best I can tell, they built 20 of the 36" gage 4-4-0's (actually the one at Omaha was the same as a 36" but gaged to 30"). In the 1960's, they were 4000 lb. tractive effort and in the 1970's they upgraded to 5700 lb. tractive effort. They also converted an 1897 Porter 0-6-2T to a 2-6-2 with tender. That is the only 36" Crown I can't find. Does anyone know where it is? It still has the Porter chassis, smokebox door, and sand dome, but has Crown boiler, steamdome, headlight, cab, pilot and tender. I've heard rumors it went to California. Anyhow, they were well built but not well adjusted. Brakes, valve gear, suspension, etc. had to be re-set. But once adjusted, they were tough little engines, and the two I ran are still in service 29 years later at Paramount's Kings Island in Cincinnati. I have compiled a complete list of 36" Crowns and a description of how they were built. It has been submitted to the owner of the Yahoo Parktrains list for posting as soon as other priorities in his life allow him to do so.
--Denis Larrick