Hartwell 0-4-2 Locomotives in the USA

Class Nancy Hart (Locobase 11760)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 9, p. 183. See also George Woodman Hilton, American Narrow-Gauge Railroads (Stanford, Calif: Stanford University Press, 1990), pp. 372-373. Works numbers were 4798 in October 1879.

The Hartwell consisted of 10 miles of rail that connected Hartwell , Ga with Bowersville. Southern Railway bought the HRR, but an earlier suit against the bankrupt Richmond & Danville resulted in the Southern leasing the HRR to T J Lindner for 10 years in 1898. Hilton reports that J D Matheson took over as lessee in 1902. Apparently, the Hartwell was small enough that it evaded complete absorption and survived as an independent short line. Indeed, it continued to handle freight into the 21st Century.

Operated by the Hartwell for almost 20 years as its one and only locomotive, the 1 was sold to locomotive rebuilder/reseller Southern Iron & Equipment when Matheson converted the HRR to standard gauge in 1905.

in 1907. SI & E found a buyer in December 1911 in J J Jones Lumber Company of Webb, Miss, but the engine apparently didn't satisfy JJLC, so it sold it back to SI & E in 1914. Within a few months, SI & E sold the engine to Georgia Gravel in January 1915.