New York Elevated 0-4-4 "Forney" Locomotives in the USA

Class B (Locobase 5040)

Data from "'Forney' Locomotive for the New York elevated Railroad," Scientific American, Volume XXXIX [39], New series, No 21 (23 November 1878), p.319; and John H White, Jr, "Spunky Little Devils"Locomotives of the New York Elevated," Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin 162, See Locobase 5423 for a more general discussion. Works numbers were 710-714 in August 1878 and 720-724 in September.

Some of the hundreds of Matthias Forney tanks designed for rapid acceleration over short distances. A straight boiler rode over the two driving axles and the firebox dropped behind the rear driving axle and in front of the bogie truck under the tank.

Class D / D2 (Locobase 15371)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 9, p. 103. See also [], last accessed 7 November 2010 and F J Camulla, "The New York Elevated Railroads," Industries and Iron, Volume 1 (24 December 1886), p. 662-663. Baldwin works numbers were 4539-4542, 4544-4546, 4548 in February 1879; 4550, 4552, 4567-4573 in March. Rhode Island's works numbers were 745-747 in February 1879 and 748-762 in March.

After 25 years of service, the lines were electrified and the Forneys were sold in 1903-1904 to locomotive rebuilder/reseller Birmingham Rail & Locomotive. BR&L found new homes for the entire class in lumbering, a kind of railroading that suited the low axle loadings and starting traction power of the 0-4-4T arrangement.