482 has the lowest builders plate number, 58541, with 480 -81 having builders plate numbers 58558-58559, and BLW records show that they were completed in July, 1925. The rest were completed in August, with 483-89 probably completed in the first week.
Because 482 has the lowest builders plate number, most non official Baldwin record keepers assume that it was built first as well. However Baldwin never cared much about what builders plate number went on a particular locomotive at a particular time. What counted with BLW was the class number, and the engines usually were built in class number order.
Parts for a particular locomotive from all over the works would have their class number stamped on them, and then gathered together when each locomotive was actually built.
The K-36 engines were Class 12-34 1/4-E #68 to 77.
Baldwin made a guess as to how many engines that they would build in a given month, based on their orders, and would cast up two plates for each anticipated locomotive in that month, with the month and year on them.
When it came time to put the builders plate on the engine, a set of plates would be picked up from where ever they were kept, and the class number stamped on the back, and then they were applied to the locomotive. That is why an order of 10 engines could be on the erecting floor at the same time, but not get consecutive builders numbers or even neighboring builders plate numbers.
It also explains why engines that were reported built in one month, have builders plates occasionally from the month before, or the month after the actual date of completion. It also explains why some of the information on the back (the class number) is not always correct as to locomotive type etc. The best example that I know of this, is the Red River and Gulf 4-6-0 #106 that still exists at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Louisiana. The plates from this engine were removed about 1980 by person or persons unknown, and passed through several hands before one made its way back to the museum. The BLW class number on the back identifies the engine as 10-32-E #1303 (E means 8 drivers, and #1303 is about 400 numbers higher than any 2-8-0s of that class), so someone simply goofed when they stamped the number on to the plate. No one noticed the error until the plate made it way back to the museum and the family that actually owned the railroad. The correct number should be 10-32-D #1303 and that is how the engine is listed in the BLW records.
Thus the fact that 482 has the lowest builders plate number says nothing about either construction order, or delivery order.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/04/2020 07:53PM by Everett Lueck.
