Recent Losses -- Steam Locomotives Scrapped Since 1959

There have probably been about 50 steam locomotives scrapped since 1959. A few of them are described here. There is also a page describing two of the more well-known scrappings of Richard Jensen's locomotives. If you can provide any more details on these or others please let me know.

Paulsen Spence/Louisiana Eastern Steam Locomotives

Many steam locomotives (37) were acquired by Paulsen Spence for his Louisiana Eastern Railroad. Unfortunately, when Paulsen passed away in 1961, many of these locomotives were scrapped.

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JFK Playground Locomotive

There used to be a standard gauge 0-4-0T located at the JFK Playground at 6th and 7th & O and P Streets NW in Washington, DC. The locomotive deteriorated over the years to the point where it was a hazard, and the remains were removed from the park and scrapped sometime around 1990. The location was an extremely bad, extremely dangerous neighborhood.

A. H. Smith 0-4-2T 5

This locomotive had been displayed at a sand-gravel company in Branchville, MD. It was owned by A. H. Smith. It was cut up in the mid 90s, after its protector, Mr. Smith died. At last sighting it was said to be in deplorable condition, so it could be called a mercy scrapping, although it is tragic to lose any steam engine at this late date.

• photos (Courtesy Bill Adams

Allied / Solvay 0-6-0 25

25 was sold in 1993 to a scrap dealer and scrapped.

Buffalo Creek & Gauley

In the 1970s, ex-Buffalo Creek & Gauley 2-8-2 No. 17 was sold for scrap. New York's Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad, which operates today as a common-carrier freight line famous for its roster of immaculately maintained ALCO diesels, had a steam tourist operation in the late 60s and early 70s which utilized No. 17 for power. The line also sometimes hauled revenue freight cars in the consist of its passenger trains, allowing riders the opportunity to ride in a real working steam-powered "mixed" train!

The railroad began experiencing mechanical problems with No. 17 in the late 1960s, so they then began using 2-8-0 No. 38 for most of their excursion needs. Sometime in the 70s, the steam tourist operation folded, and the LA&L, unable to find a buyer for No. 17, sold the engine to a private individual, who later sold it for scrap. The loco was cut up at Lakeville in 1970. For more details, check Railfan & Railroad's index on their website. They mentioned the scrapping of No. 17 in a story on the LA&L which appeared in their January 1997 issue.

Interesting side note: LA&L No. 17 was equipped with a Pennsylvania Railroad tender which appeared to be from a class L1 Mikado, although similar tenders were sometimes used behind their M1 class Mountain types and I1 class Decapods. Fortunately, the LA&L swapped No. 17's PRR tender for No. 38's before it was sold, so at least the Pennsy tender was saved.

Central of Georgia 4-8-4 451

I have received two different accounts around the details of this scrapping:

Account #1: This locomotive was once displayed in Columbus, GA. It was thought to have been scrapped around the time of the Southern RY takeover. If that was true the timing was quite unfortunate as this would have been just before the SR steam excursion program and their search for operable engines.

Account #2: Upon retirement 451 was stored at the CofG shops in Macon, GA. It was scrapped in 1959 after the CofG was unsuccessfully in finding a city or institution to accept it as a display piece. Had the locomotive survived another year or two, the newly organized Atlanta Chapter NRHS would have accepted her.

Central Vermont 2-8-0 450-455

The Central Vermont had six Class M-3-a 2-8-0 Consolidation type locomotives numbered 450-455 until 1955. One was scrapped in 1955, one in 1956 and four lasted until 1960.

Central Vermont Railway Locomotives

Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4s 2770 and 2781

Upon retirement, four C&O Kanawhas (2705, 2756, 2770, and 2781) were sent to the scrap lines behind the diesel shops at Russell, KY, but survived into the mid 1970's along with the last K-3 2-8-2 (1189), J3a 4-8-4 614 (still wearing 611 to which it had been temporarily renumbered just before retirement), H-6 2-6-6-2 1309 (Baldwin's last domestic steam locomotive), and H-8 2-6-6-6 1604. 1604 was donated to the Roanoke Transportation Museum circa 1969. Tragically, two of the four 2-8-4s (2770 and 2781) and the K-3 Mike were cut up at Russell, KY in the early 1970s.

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 0-6-0 510

This locomotive was once at the French Lick Sheraton Hotel, French Lick, IN. It was possibly scrapped sometime between 1965 and 1975 for reasons unknown. No further information is available.

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 4-8-4 5620

This class O-5A was once located at Galesburg, IL. It was sold for scrap in the 1960s.

Chicago, Burlington & Quincy 4-8-4 5632

5632 was owned by Dick Jensen. It was last operated in 1963 and scrapped in Chicago in the early 1970s.

Carolina Clinchfield & Ohio 4-6-6-4 Challengers

There were four Clinchfield 4-6-6-4 Challenger locomotives that languished along the Clinchfield main at Erwin, Tennessee into the early 1960s. They were scrapped sometime after August 1962. There are photos near the bottom of this page.

Coos Bay Lumber 2-8-2T #10

After retirement this locomotive was displayed at the OP&E in Portland, OR. It was then sold to Midland Railway in Baldwin City, KS with the intent to restore it to operating condition. Those plans failed. It was then sold to the Williston Crossing RV Resort in Williston, FL. They later wanted to sell it but could not find a buyer. They decided to scrap it in 2011.

New York, Chicago & St. Louis (NKP) 4-8-4s 965

Dick Jensen had aquired this locomotive and it may have been moved to another scrap yard location. It was planned to restore it to operational condition. However, it got caught into the same issues 5632 did and was scrapped about the same time 5632 was. The NKP Historical magazine has an article about NKP 965 in the September 1968 issue.

New York, Chicago & St. Louis (NKP) (ex W&LE) 4-8-4s 6402 & 6410

Berkshires 802 and 810 (ex-W&LE 6402, 6410) were sold to McLouth Steel in Trenton MI in November 1959 for stationary boiler duty. They may have survived into the late 1960s before being torched.

Denver & Rio Grande Western 2-8-2

In 1965, D&RGW K-37 2-8-2 490 met with the torch. It had been retired in 1962, and was being used as a parts source while sitting on top of a flatcar in Alamosa Colorado until it's demise.

Detroit Edison 0-6-0

A Detroit Edison 0-6-0 was once on display in Champaigne Park in Allen Park, MI. This engine was steamed into the park from off the DT&I in the mid-1950s and used as playground equipment. It was cut up by the city in June, 1970. It was similar to engines on display in Marysville, MI and at the Illinois Railway Museum and at the Toledo, Lake Erie and Western tourist line in Grand Rapids, OH.

Disneyworld 2-6-0 #52

The Magick Kingdom (Disneyworld) has scrapped the Pittsburgh 2-6-0 #52 originally built for Unidos de Yucatan, Mexico. This was the fifth engine bought for Walt Disney World, but was not considered suitable for restoration.

• More info
• More info

Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-8-8-4 221

221 was displayed near the lake front in Two Harbors, MN. In the late 60s it began to show its age. In 1967 is was pulled from display back to the Proctor roundhouse (and later scrapped) and replaced by Yellowstone 229 which, surprisingly had been stored all that time in the Proctor roundhouse.

Grand Trunk Western 4-6-2 5629

5629, owned by Dick Jensen, was stored on Rock Island trackage in Chicago. When Metra took over the trackage, it wanted 5629 removed. Jensen's refusal led to Metra obtaining an eviction notice permitting scrapping on the spot. Attempts by the Illinois Railway Museum to save the locomotive failed.

Georgia Peach 2-6-2 #4

This 2-6-2 was on display in Halifax, NS, Canada. It was built as an 0-6-0 for Jacksonville Terminal and later rebuilt into a 2-6-2 by Intercolonial Coal. It was scrapped in the spring of 1982.

Illinois Central 0-8-0 3571 and 0-6-0s 261 & 272

In the fall of 1989 three Illinois Central Switchers were cut up at Crystal Springs, MS. They were ICRR #3571, one of only two remaining IC 0-8-0s and 0-6-0s #261 & #272. These locomotives were last used by Traxler Gravel Co. until the mid-60s. Ownership passed to a local NRHS chapter and finally to a restaurant company but only after a large canal was built between them and the main line, so moving them would have been very difficult. They had fallen into very poor condition and a county official decided they had become a safety hazard and ordered them scrapped.

Kentucky & Tennessee 2-8-2 11

11 was sold to the US Army about 1964. It was scrapped at Aberdeen, MD in 1966.

Jones & Laoghlin Steel 0-4-0 59

In June 1998 this steam locomotive was dismantled. It is former Jones & Laughlin Steel number 59, a 0-4-0 Tank 23" gauge locomotive located in Cranberry, PA. Two locomotives, number 58 and 59 were being stored in the yard of a rigging company earmarked for a planned transportation museum in Pittsburgh, PA. These two locomotives were built extremely heavy for steel mill service, weighing 93,000 lbs. each. After 6 years of storage with no payment forthcoming from the museum planners, the owner of the yard stated that he would scrap the locomotives unless someone purchased them. Rick Rowlands purchased number 58 for $5,000, and initially tried to find a taker for 59. However, after looking 59 over, it was found that both cylinder castings were fractured from water that had gotten into the castings. At that time Rick made a deal to purchase the running gear from 59 and a friend then purchased the boiler. The only part of the locomotive to be scrapped in essence was the frame and cylinders, one of which broke into three pieces while handling the loco. Some good news is that the boiler may be incorporated into a home-built 24" gauge locomotive in the future, and the running gear is suitable for use in the manufacture of a 24" or 36" gauge four coupled locomotive.

Norfolk & Western Y-6s

Two Norfolk and Western Y-6s (2143, with no tender, and 2174) languished in a Roanoke scrap yard until approximately 1976. The previous owner had held onto them, but a new owner bought the yard, and cut them up immediately!

Northern Pacific A-4 4-8-4 #2676

NP 2676 was retired on October 1958. It had been used at Superior, WI for use as a stationary boiler for thawing ore cars in the winter. It was scrapped in 1965. One person suggested that Lou Menk, the NP President, discovered this loco in the Superior roundhouse and ordered it to be scrapped. However, it has been pointed out that Lou Menk did not become the NP President until late 1966 (one year after it had been scrapped). Any other details about the NP 2676 would be welcomed.

Reference: Northern Pacific Supersteam Era by Frey & Schrenk, pub. by Golden West Books, 1985. Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 85-13189, ISBN 0-97095-092-4 (v.1); pgs 139 & 205

Rayonier

Two of Rayonier Inc's 147-ton 2-6-6-2s, #14 & #120, were retired in the early 1960s but stored on the property for a number of years. The tender from #120 was removed and converted to a water car. #14 was finally scrapped in 1968 and #120 in 1969, after almost a decade of neglect and deterioration. #120's tender was not scrapped until after Rayonier abandoned their operations; the tender from #14 is now privately owned in Independence, OR. Sierra/Rayonier #38, which has survived and is located in a private lot in McCloud, CA, is virtually identical to these two locomotives (info from Jon Davis' site).

Southern Pacific 0-6-0 1294

This locomotive was displayed in the playground area of the San Francisco Zoo from 1957. It was a popular attraction because kids were allowed to climb all over it. Unfortunatly, the salt water in the air accelerated its deterioration. As a result, in 1987 it was removed from the park and scrapped.

• SP 1294 (1969 Golden Gate Park photo courtesy Alan McFaden)

Southern Pacific (T&NO) 2-8-2 Class Mk-5 743

This locomotive was located in Girard Park in Lafayette, Louisiana. Little attempt was made to preserve or protect her, and like many park engines, she soon succumbed to the weather and neglect. When it was decided in 1970 to built a park facility in place of #743, she was simply scrapped after being on display for less than 15 years.

Texas & Pacific 2-10-4 #638

T&P #638 was donated to the City of Dallas for the State Fair of Texas back in 1953. It was displayed in Fair Park during the fair for a couple years. Unfortunately, in it's first two years at Fair Park, #638 was heavily vandalized. It was scrapped in 1955. In 1957 an ex-New York Central 4-8-2 #3001 was brought in to replace #638. In 1963 the Age of Steam exhibit opened which developed into the Age of Steam Museum. The public outcry that resulted from the loss of #638 was one of the reasons for the creation of the museum.

United Power Manufacturing Co. 711

This locomotive used to be displayed at Midland Iron and Steel, in Moline, IL. It was an 0-4-0 (fireless) locomotive built by Heisler in 1939 (construction number 46). It was scrapped in January of 2004 because it was beyond cosmetic restoration.

US Army 0-6-0 7

In 1976, the New Hope & Ivyland RR of New Hope, PA scrapped a LIMA 0-6-0. In 1966 #7 came to the NH&I from the Virginia Blue Ridge along with sister #9. Both built in 1942, the switchers worked in naval supply service for the US Army. In 1952 they were sent to The United States Transportation Corps. training facility at Fort Eustis. #7 was later sold with three other Army 0-6-0's (0-6-0 #5 became the Morris County Central's 4039, now at the Whippany RY Museum in Whippany, NJ). She became #7 on the Virginia Blue Ridge in 1958 and in 1966 came to the NH&I. Between 1967 and 1976 #7 was stored on a spur in the woods between Lahaska and Buckingham Valley stations. She never ran on the NH&I. In order to place #9 in service in mid 1976 #7 was stripped and scrapped. (Information provided by Jeff Slupski)

US Army 620

USA no. ____, Lima, c/n 7878, date of mfr unknown: Ft. Eustis no. 620: was scrapped at Newport News, VA in 1966.

Wanamie Mines 0-4-0

The standard gauge Wanamie Mines 0-4-0 that was on display in Wanamie, PA was scrapped in 2001.

0-4-0T

The Tennessee Valley RR Museum scrapped a little 0-4-0T called "Zero" that came from an amusement park in South Carolina called "Pirateland Park". It was a Cooke/ALCO built in 1916 and was cut up by Sisken Steel in 1980 at the museum. There are pictures of the scrapping in the "Steam in the Valley" book about TVRM.

0-4-0T

In the mid 1990s an 0-4-0T was scrapped in Crystal Lake, IL, at the Vulcan Sand & Gravel pit where it last worked and was later put on display at the entrance. The Illinois Railway Museum was planning to move it but the locomotive was scrapped instead.

0-4-0T

A Porter 0-4-0 "Dinky" sat rusting and abandoned on the property of Marquette Cement Co. near Rockmart GA before it was cut up sometime in the late 70s or early 80s. The source of this information is Mr. Stewart Mintz who worked there for many years.

Mower Lumber Shay

Shay number 6, serial number 1907, was from Mower Lumber (what eventually became Cass Scenic) and Western Maryland. It had been used for some time by a coal manufacturer near Tunnelton, WV and was bought by David Corbett in 1974. Dave had relocated the locomotive to a point adjacent to a Chessie line in preparation to moving the engine to a different location. Unfortunately, a coal train derailed adjacent to it and seriously damaged it. In 1978 what remained of it was sold to Cass Scenic for parts. In 1980, Cass Scenic scrapped it.