Re: What engines are in this?
| December 28, 2008 09:04PM |
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The main locomotive seen in that episode is the Oahu Railway & Land/Navigation Co. #85. Built by ALCO/Cooke in 1910, shipped around the horn and delivered in November of that year. It is an outside frame 4-6-0.
Back when the Southern California Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society was getting started in Los Angeles, F. Norman Clark (founder of Roaring Camp) was using the club's stationary to write to various railroads asking for donations of steam locomotives. He began writing in 1953 and the first locomotives began showing up with freight bills attached and no where to store or display them.
Some of the railroads that donated equipment, paid for the freight, however the arrival of the OR&L equipment at LA Harbor, was the last straw. The club had no money in the bank and Norman's stationary was taken away and he was told to curb his enthusiasm. Gerald Best stepped forward as did a few others and paid the freight bill and transportation to the Travel Town museum.
The shipment and delivery of the equipment was carried by steamship from Pearl Harbor to Los Angeles Harbor, swung dramatically by crane from ship to shore, and trucked through the streets of Los Angeles trailed by news film crews.
When the #85 arrived in 1953, it was in operating condition and Best along with the others persuaded the parks dept. to lay some track. This became the Crystal Springs & Southwestern which ran from 1955 to 1962 when the locomotive failed a boiler inspection. The route followed what would become state hiway 134 more commonly known as the Ventura Freeway which was not built until 1963 when construction began. Fare on the C S & S W was 20cents for adults and 10 cents for kids.
In 1992, the #85 and former Waialua Ag / Oahu Sugar Co. #5 (0-6-2T) were traded for California Western Baldwin Diesel #56. Kyle Railways / Railroads of Hawaii wanted the #85 for use on the LK&P. A new boiler was procured for the engine, but when it arrived from the manufacturer, it did not fit. It languishes in pieces at the shops of the LK&P on Maui, while Oahu Sugar is on display.
The O.R.& N.Co. Passenger/Mail #36 built in 1900, Passenger #1 built also in 1900, and Caboose C-1 are still at Travel Town and finally under cover. I was there in November and took these pictures. Notice that the coach and combine have roller bearing conversions done on the trucks.
The last picture shows the #85 on April 16, 1955 during the festivities of the inaugural run. That is Gerry Best driving the final spike at the end of the line.
On the far right is a young Norman Clark who was responsible for writing the letters that preserved the #85 and the other pieces that came over from Hawaii. Three years after this photo was taken, Norman found himself up in the Santa Cruz mountains, with only $25.00 in his pocket and some big dreams for building a railroad.
Back when the Southern California Chapter of the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society was getting started in Los Angeles, F. Norman Clark (founder of Roaring Camp) was using the club's stationary to write to various railroads asking for donations of steam locomotives. He began writing in 1953 and the first locomotives began showing up with freight bills attached and no where to store or display them.
Some of the railroads that donated equipment, paid for the freight, however the arrival of the OR&L equipment at LA Harbor, was the last straw. The club had no money in the bank and Norman's stationary was taken away and he was told to curb his enthusiasm. Gerald Best stepped forward as did a few others and paid the freight bill and transportation to the Travel Town museum.
The shipment and delivery of the equipment was carried by steamship from Pearl Harbor to Los Angeles Harbor, swung dramatically by crane from ship to shore, and trucked through the streets of Los Angeles trailed by news film crews.
When the #85 arrived in 1953, it was in operating condition and Best along with the others persuaded the parks dept. to lay some track. This became the Crystal Springs & Southwestern which ran from 1955 to 1962 when the locomotive failed a boiler inspection. The route followed what would become state hiway 134 more commonly known as the Ventura Freeway which was not built until 1963 when construction began. Fare on the C S & S W was 20cents for adults and 10 cents for kids.
In 1992, the #85 and former Waialua Ag / Oahu Sugar Co. #5 (0-6-2T) were traded for California Western Baldwin Diesel #56. Kyle Railways / Railroads of Hawaii wanted the #85 for use on the LK&P. A new boiler was procured for the engine, but when it arrived from the manufacturer, it did not fit. It languishes in pieces at the shops of the LK&P on Maui, while Oahu Sugar is on display.
The O.R.& N.Co. Passenger/Mail #36 built in 1900, Passenger #1 built also in 1900, and Caboose C-1 are still at Travel Town and finally under cover. I was there in November and took these pictures. Notice that the coach and combine have roller bearing conversions done on the trucks.
The last picture shows the #85 on April 16, 1955 during the festivities of the inaugural run. That is Gerry Best driving the final spike at the end of the line.
On the far right is a young Norman Clark who was responsible for writing the letters that preserved the #85 and the other pieces that came over from Hawaii. Three years after this photo was taken, Norman found himself up in the Santa Cruz mountains, with only $25.00 in his pocket and some big dreams for building a railroad.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
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