Zealand Valley 2-4-2 "Columbian" Locomotives in the USA

Class J E Henry (Locobase 16543)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 12, pp. 259 and Volume 13, p. 150. See also "Zealand Valley Railroad" at [], last accessed 29 May 2021; Preston Bristow, "Vermont's Original Rail to Trail: The Long Trail and Logging Railroads", originally published in Long Trail News (Fall 2014) and archived as blog entry for 31 January 2019 at [], last accessed 29 May 2021; and L S Twombly's Locomotive Notes for the Zealand Valley RR supplied in May 2021 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange collection. Works numbers were 7794 in February 1886 and 8269 in October.

James Everell Henry founded the New Hampshire town of Zealand as a base of operations for his timber-harvesting in the Zealand Valley. At one point, the town of Zealand sported two train stations serving the Boston, Concord and Montreal line and the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad. Four years later, Henry laid down the ZVRR first operated as a 11 mile (17.7 km) logging road when it opened in February 1886 and took delivery of the first of these saddle-tanks.

Heading south from Zealand, the road paralleled the Zealand River for The specification described its challenges as a "300 ft grade" (presumably the gain in altitude- the length of grade isn't given) and "20 deg curves". Rails weighed 56 lb/yard (28 kg/metre). After it cleared Whitewall Mountain, line turned 90 deg to the east to end near Mount Willey.

The ZV gained common-carrier status in 1887 (By 1891, the Concord & Montreal operated the line.) Its logging phase lasted only as long as Zealand Valley's timber remained standing. By 1891, the ZV was operated by the Concord & Montreal. An 1886 forest fire accelerated the decline when it burned through most of the area. Preston Bristow quoted Henry as declaring: "'I never see the tree yit that didn't mean a damned sight more to me goin' under the saw than it did standin' on a mountain'". His career in New Hampshire amply demonstrated that sentiment.

Both of the saddle tanks traveled to other parts of the Henry empire. 1 travelled upstate to support construction of the East Branch & Lincoln in 1892, but moved on in 1893 to Woodstock, and in 1907 to Swift River Railroad. L S Twombly's detailed account of the engine's later career ends with its abandonment in 1930 and scrapping by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936.

Tintah, delivered a few months later than the Henry, was leased to Bethlehem, NH's Little River Railroad. Ammonoosuc Railroad of West Milan, NH, leased the 2 in 1893. Later users included the South Bog Railroad of Macy Junction, ME.