Whelen Logging & Manufacturing Company 2-6-2 "Prairie" Locomotives in the USA

Class 2 (Locobase 14163)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 48, p. 310. Works number was 39786 in March 1913.

Originally ordered by the Florida Timber Products Company, the wood-burning #10 was had been delivered, but Baldwin repossessed the locomotive in November 1913 and sold it this Arkansas wood-manufacturer. Baldwin's Extra Work Department received word on 23 July 1914 to make several changes. A dual-fuel grate with rocking bars and drop plate was added. The wide-brimmed Radley & Hunter stack gave way to a straight, 13" diameter stack. Appalachicola Northern would lend assistance in relettering the tender and cab for the WL&MC and to change 10's number to 2.

According to Gene Connelly's comprehensive list of Baldwin production, Whelen didn't keep the engine long either as it encountered financial difficulties and sold the 2 to W B Harbison Lumber Company in July 1915 as their #101. Harbison, a Carriere, Miss company that by this time was owner both of timber lands to harvest and of cut-over acres to turn to farm land, sent this hot potato 101 to W M Carney Mill in 1918. Carney operated the 101 for seven years before selling it to the Atmore State Prison Farm in Alabama.

The prison farm, recently renamed from its original Moffett Prison Farm after its original owners sold the 3,600-acre property to the state in March 1928. According to a 23 December 2010 post on Ancestry.com's message board ([]) "Moffett State Farm was built to receive the final movement of convicts from the mines: on June 30, 1928. Similar to road camp construction, Moffett had wood-framed barracks with concrete foundations with baths and toilets on each wing."

It was a demonstration farm that showed real promise and eventually Atmore grew to 8,360 acres. "Buildings were also constructed for the wardens and guards; a cold storage plant, a canning plant, and a 42 mile railroad. The total cost of Moffett State Farm was $452,544.90 with a capacity of 850 convicts. Provisions were also made for showing movies, radios, baseball and football outfits, and other amusement/recreation facilities."