2-6-0 "Mogul" Steam Locomotives in the USA

Class J (Locobase 16399)

Locomotive data from TRRA 11 - 1930 Locomotive Diagram book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange; and DeGolyer, Volume 12, p. 29. (Many thanks to Chris Hohl for his extensive research and his 3 December 2018 email, spreadsheet, and article link. Chris particularly cites Ron Goldfeder for his article, "The Inspection Locomotive." Railroad History. Spring-Summer 2012. Number 206. pgs. 20 & 32, and further assistance.)

Hohl's notes state that the "Observation" inspection locomotive originally entered service in 1884 (Baldwin works number 7196 in March) as St Louis Bridge & Tunnel all-adhesion six-coupled switcher #20. It joined several other Baldwins and would in turn be joined by still more 0-6-0s.

In 1905, the shops took the now-adult-aged 20 and made her over. They added a truck to improve tracking and increased drive diameter two inches (50.8 mm) from the original 49" (1,245 mm). Otherwise, little seems to have been done to either the boiler or firebox.

The profile changed dramatically as the TRRA mounted an inspection cabin on the boiler. Like many other such conversions, the engineer and fireman stations remained intact, but the separate cab was removed. Instead, the crew used the rear two of six windows while the inspectors and observers peered out of the front four. The stack's height was extended to allow smoke to clear the roof. Likewise, the dome's safety valve stand was also fitted with an extension.

Hohl's notes picked up several differences from the usual conversion. They included a "porch" (Locobase's term) whose floor rested on a frame extended forward of the new truck. Although a set of stairs led to the front doors, these opened in, rather than out as in most other inspection conversions.

The "Observation" later reverted to a conventional 2-6-0 layout. As such, it was sold to the 4.8-mile (7.75 km) Cassville & Exeter in southwestern Missouri. (This 1896 line was described as the shortest standard-gauge railroad in the United States.) Sources differ on the date of the sale; some say 1919, others 1928.

Renamed the "Mary Ann",

Class K (Locobase 7309)

Locomotive data from TRRA 1939 Locomotive Diagram book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also DeGolyer, Volume 22, p. 168. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 18 July 2016 email noting the original tender capacity.) Works number was 17005 in September 1899.

This was the only locomotive in the TRRA's 1939 diagram book delivered with either a leading or trailing truck; everything else was an all-adhesion switcher. The small diameter cylinders had the longest stroke of any 17" cylinder Mogul for US service. Its original tender capacity is shown in the specs. A later tender carried 4,000 US gallons (15,140 litres) and 6 tons (5.45 tonnes) of coal.

According to the website of the TRRA's Historical and Technical Society, Inc ([], accessed 14 December 2005), the TRRA was formed in 1889 to coordinate terminal operations around the St Louis Union Station and environs. It "quickly" became the largest freight and passenger terminal operation in the world.