Rock Creek Lumber Company 2-8-2 "Mikado" Locomotives in the USA

Class 14 (Locobase 14287)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 71, pp. 355+. See also Glen Brewer's account "Iron horses put out to pasture: Scenes from the Piney Woods" at []. . Works number was 56917 in August 1923.

Locobase 13682 shows the 1915 logging Mikado built for the Peninsular that had the same boiler and firebox. Power dimensions were different because the drivers were taller and thus the wheelbase grew, but the two engines were otherwise very similar. A 2 June 1924 "Hereafter" note in the specs says that in future: "Apply an equalizing beam between third and fourth drivers, instead of a short spring, as shown on print herewith."

Rock Creek and Texas Long Leaf Lumber are related, but as noted in Locobase 14286, the name change sequence and time-stamp are difficult to puzzle out. Suffice to say that in 1940, Texas Long Leaf sold the 14 to W T Carter and Brother (Ernest A) of Camden, Tex. See Brewer's account of his ride on one of the last runs 14 made in January 1965. He also noted the eight steam logging engines rusting in peace and notes, happily, that every one of them was eventually preserved for display.

After its retirement in May 1965, the engine was sold in 1970 to Rusk, Tex for display, one supposes, but it soon was sold to the City of Houston.