Re: SR&RL 10

A follow-up: The photo of SR&RL 10 in the Strong yard appears to be related to a series of images of engines 23 and 10 in Strong taken by Newell Martin and Hugh Boutell in August 1936, and may even be one of their pictures. The story is that during scrapping, Dr. Charles Bell of Strong (who lived in one of the big houses on the hill in the background overlooking the yard, and who had a fondness for the railroad) was interested in purchasing some equipment for preservation, so engines 23 and 10 were moved dead in tow from Phillips to Strong behind engine 18, and then lined up in front of the coal shed for inspection by Bell. (There are some indications that engine 24 may also have been under consideration -- and if you look closely behind 10's tender tank you can see a glimpse of 24's headlight!) In the end, Dr. Bell declined to purchase any of the engines (which is a shame), but he did buy the parlor car Rangeley, thereby preserving it for posterity.

I ended up purchasing the photo of 10 so it is now in my collection. (I wish I had the actual engine, but a photo is nice.)

-Philip Marshall



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/29/2015 11:09PM by philip.marshall.