Victoria, Fisher & Western 2-6-2 "Prairie" Locomotives in the USA

Class 4 (Locobase 12613)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volumes 24, p.224 and 26, p. 142.. Works number was 20221 in March 1902 and 23142 in November 1903.

This railroad served the Louisiana Long Leaf Lumber Company, which was formed by Caleb T Crowell in 1892 and milled logging products from 20,000 acres of virgin timber for 77 years.

Just after the turn into the 20th Century, the LLLLC bought these small Prairies and assigned them to the VF & W, which covered 28 miles by 1904 and 57 miles by 1920. In the early days, rail weight amounted to a mere 40 lb/yard (20 kg/m).

Class 6 (Locobase 12975)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volumes 24, p.224 and 26, p. 142.. Works numbers were 28190 in May 1906 and 31063 in June 1907.

Louisiana Long Leaf Lumber Company returned to Baldwin four years after it bought the logging Prairies described in Locobase 12613 to buy a pair produced to an updated spec. Boiler pressure increased as did the number of boiler tubes. The wood-burning firebox and grate grew slightly as well.

7 was donated by Louisiana Long Leaf to the Grigsby Foundation in August 1968. Wes Barris notes that it was stored in a serviceable condition by the Reader Railroad of Malvern, Ark.

Class 8 (Locobase 14248)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Vol 51, p. 307. Works number was 42614 in October 1915.

Essentially a duplicate of the wood-burning Ten-wheelers from 1906-1907 (Locobase 12975), the 8 was very slightly heavier. Only two years after its delivery, the VF&W closed in November 1917. All of the motive power reverted to the railroad's owner, Louisiana Long Leaf Lumber Company.