Wilmington and Western 58
Wilmington and Western No. 98 in November 2019
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number31899
Build date1907
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte0-6-0
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.56 in (1.422 m)
Wheelbase42.58 ft (1,298 cm) ​
 • Drivers11.33 ft (345 cm)
Axle load50,076 lb (22,714 kg)
Loco weight150,226 lb (75.113 short tons; 68,141 kg)
Tender weight100,000 lb (50 short tons; 45,000 kg)
Total weight250,226 lb (125.113 short tons; 113,501 kg)
Tender typeSlope-back
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity6 t (13,000 lb)
Water cap.5,000 US gal (19,000 L; 4,200 imp gal)
Boiler pressure175 psi (1.21 MPa)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearStephenson
Performance figures
Tractive effort29,993 pounds-force (133.42 kN)
Factor of adh.5.01
Career
Operators
Number in class6th of 7
Numbers
  • AB&A 58
  • AB&C 27
  • USATC 6561
  • VBR 4
  • Mead 300
  • FVSR 300
  • W&W 58
RetiredDecember 1988
RestoredOctober 1998
Current ownerWilmington and Western Railroad
DispositionOut of service, awaiting overhaul

Wilmington and Western 58 is an 0-6-0 "Switcher" type steam locomotive, originally built by Baldwin in 1907 for the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railway. It subsequently went through several ownership changes in both the steam era and the preservation era before it eventually found its way to the Wilmington and Western Railroad in 1973. Presently, No. 58 is used to operate tourist trains between Wilmington and Hockessin, Delaware.

History

Revenue service

No. 58 was the sixth out of seven engines constructed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia for delivery to the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railway, with the others numbered 53-57 and 59.[1] Compared to the AB&A's 2-6-0 and 4-6-0 engines, which were similar in size in spite of their longer wheel configurations, Nos. 53-59 held a higher adhesion rate and a greater tractive effort.[1] In 1926, the bankrupt AB&A was acquired by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, who reorganized the railway as the Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad the next year. Following this, Nos. 53-59 were renumbered 22–28, with No. 58 being renumbered to No. 27.[1][2]

Before the AB&C completely merged with Atlantic Coast Line, Nos. 22, 24, 26 and 27 were sold during World War II to Georgia Car and Locomotive Company, a rebuilder and re-seller of railroad rolling stock.[1][3] Nos. 26 and 27 were subsequently sold again to the United States Army Transportation Corp, who renumbered them to 6962 and 6961, respectively.[1][2][4] Later, No. 6962 was scrapped, while No. 6961 was sold in 1947 to the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway, where it was renumbered to 4 and used to pull train loads of titanium dioxide and aplite out of the mines the Railway served.[1][4][5] In May 1951, No. 4 was acquired by the Mead Corporation of Lynchburg, Virginia, where it was renumbered to 300.[2][4]

In 1963, Malcolm Ottinger purchased No. 300 for use to pull tourist trains on his Valley Forge Scenic Railroad alongside 4-6-2 No. 425.[4][6] However, it was reported that No. 300 never ran on the Valley Forge trackage. In 1973, No. 300 was purchased by Brian Woodcock, who was the president of the Wilmington and Western Railroad in Delaware.[4][6] The engine's road number was reverted to its original, No. 58, and it was subsequently put into public storage.[2][3][4] In 1976, No. 58 participated alongside 4-4-0 No. 98 in the United States Bicentennial Celebrations of Hockessin, Delaware.[4]

Excursion service

In December 1988, No. 58 was moved to the Avondale Railroad Center for display alongside some Ex-Pennsylvania Railroad MP54's.[2][6] In 1997, Brian Woodcock outright donated No. 58 to the W&W, with the wish that the engine be restored to operating condition.[2][3][6] The W&W returned No. 58 to service by the fall of 1998, and the engine began to pull trains on the Ez-Baltimore and Ohio line between Wilmington and Hockessin.[2][4][7] On May 23, 1999, No. 58 became dedicated as "The Veteran's Locomotive".[2]

In 2013, the engine was removed from service to undergo an FRA-required overhaul.[3] The overhaul took four years to complete before No. 58 re-entered service in 2017.[3] Simultaneously, No. 98 was taken out of service to undergo a similar overhaul, leaving No. 58 as the sole-operating steam engine on the W&W in the present time.[3] In 2024, it was taken out of service were it is awaiting an overhaul.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic 0-6-0 "Switcher" Locomotives in the USA". www.steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Wilmington & Western Railroad - Delaware's Operating Railroad Museum". www.wwrr.com. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 wrp_admin (2019-03-25). "A Visit to the Wilmington & Western Railroad". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved 2023-04-19.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Vazquez, Gisela (2008). Wilmington and Western Railroad. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-5362-7.
  5. ↑ "Virginia Short Lines and Industrial Roads". 6 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Steam Locomotive Information". www.steamlocomotive.info. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  7. ↑ Writer, JACK SHAUMStaff (24 August 2006). "Take a ride into history on Wilmington and Western". The Star Democrat. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  8. ↑ "Steam Locomotives". Wilmington and Western Railroad. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
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