Kelly Anderson Wrote:
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> As I understand it, one locomotive builder in
> Great Britain was not located on any railroad, and
> every engine they built was hauled out of the
> factory on heavy trailers hauled by steam traction
> engines. I recall seeing a photo of a good-sized
> Pacific getting ready to be on her way behind
> double headed steam tractors.
I don't know about Britain, but here stateside the well-known Rogers works didn't have a proper rail connection, at least not early on. That was a relic of the firm's 1830's origin as a general machine shop not necessarily related to the railroad industry.
Porter particulartly specialized in building light locomotives that could be transported overland in pieces and assembled on-site. Their smaller size engines could be bought that way from the factory--parted out and in crates. It also used an early template system so that industrial lines lacking full facilities could order for replacement parts when needed.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/06/2023 09:29AM by James.