Gilchrist-Fordney 2-6-2 "Prairie" Locomotives in the USA

Class 204 (Locobase 13347)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 32, p.71. See also Tony Howe's "Growth of the Lumber Industry, (1840 to 1930)" at [] and the exchange begun 28 May 2010 on the Trainorders.com blog. Baldwin works number 33238 in March 1909.

Gilchrist-Fordney bought this rather large logging Prairie for its Laurel, Miss.

Tony Howe, author of the article cited above, contacted Wes Barris and Locobase in October 2012 with a correction, accepted with gratitude, of the 204's history. "LoggerHogger" adds that the 204 was first painted bright red while operating in Mississippi and maintained that signature (and singular) appearance throughout most of its operating life. LoggerHogger adds that "W. T. Sherman, ... ran her first in Mississippi for Gilchrist and then in Oregon when she moved out in 1938. Sherman ran her for a total of 30 years!"

Howe notes that when the Laurel area had been cut over, the 204 was transferred in 1937 to sister company Gilchrist Timber in Gilchrist, Ore. Five years later, Gilchrist sold the engine to the Klamath Northern in January 1942. She ran on the KN for more than ten years before being scrapped in the late 1950s, almost fifty years after she arrived in Laurel.