Death Valley 2-8-0 "Consolidation" Locomotives in the USA

Class 1 (Locobase 14252)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Vol 51, p. 356, 358. See also [] and the Brill Car restoration site at [] . Works numbers were 41473 in June 1914 and 42864 in February 1916.

The British-owned DVRR was formed in 1914 to exploit borax deposits near Ryan, Calif (named for the leading speculator). It connected Ryan with the Tonopah & Tidewater at Death Valley Junction, Nev about 20 miles distant. These relatively powerful narrow-gauge, oil-burning Consolidations pulled trainloads of water into the valley in the morning and borax out to Death Valley Junction in the evening. The specs called for them to negotiate 20-degree curves and 1 1/2% grrades on 56 lb/yard (28 kg/metre) rails.

As the borax played out, the DVRR converted to a tourist road in 1925, bringing visitors to the converted miners' dormitories that now made up the Furnace Creek Inn. The passengers would ride in a Brill car, a self-propelled 38-passenger gasoline-powered rail vehicle. By 1929, US Borax decided to close down all operations. The last two trains to run were pulled by the two 2-8-0s on 21 February 1930.

The pair's new owner was United States Potash Company of Loving, NM. Both operated for that company until their retirements in January 1956. 1 wound up on display at Municipal Beach Park in Carlsbad, NM while 2 was eventually put on display at the Furnace Creek Ranch Resort at Death Valley Junction.