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BEDT #15 - Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal - H. K. Porter 5966 - built: March 1917

BROOKLYN EASTERN DISTRICT TERMINAL - # 15

Builder & Location: H. K. Porter (Pittsburgh, PA)
Serial Number: 5966
Build Date: March 1917


Wheel Arrangement:

0-6-0T

Boiler Capacity:

1200 gal

Hauling Capacity

grade

extra good
track

average
track

Wheel Diameter: 46" Boiler Pressure: 180 psi

(in tons)

level 3915 2520
Wheelbase: 11' 0"  Tube Diameter: 2" ¼ % 2185 1660
Weight: 128,000 lbs Tube Length: 9' 6" ½ % 1500 1230
Fuel Tank Capacity: 500 gal # of  Tubes: 202 1 % 910 795
Water Tank Capacity: 1800 gal Tractive Effort: 25,865 lbs 2 % 490 450
Length: 29' 0" Factor of Adhesion: 4.86 3 % 325 305
Height: 14' 6" Cylinders: 18"d x 24"s

Sharpest curve, advised:

180' radius
Valve Type: Balanced Slide

Sharpest curve, practicable:

100' radius
Lightest rail usage, advised: 70 lbs per yd

Owner History:  3/1917    - 1935 ?:  Mesta Machine Works   (West Homestead, PA) (number unknown - most likely #4)
    1935    - 1935:     Birmingham Rail & Locomotive Co.   (Birmingham, AL) (supplier & broker)   
    1935 ? - 1965:     BEDT #15   (Brooklyn, NY)
    1965    - 1975:     South Appalachia Rwy #15   (Burnsville, NC)
    1975    - 1998:     Toledo, Lake Erie & Western #15   (Grand Rapids, OH)
Present Location: Thomas the Tank Engine #1 (operational), Strasburg RR   (Strasburg, PA)
Condition: only BEDT loco currently under steam. #15 was completely stripped, rebuilt,
converted to coal firing and side tank, and cosmetically altered to resemble Thomas the Tank Engine.
Notes: H. K. Porter "Medium" saddle-tank model
("3/4 length" saddletank)

Oldest of the surviving BEDT locos

It is believed that #14 and #15 were purchased as a result of the expansion of BEDT operations at the Wallabout Terminal

Rounded bottom of saddletank repaired / modified with square "skirt"
(out of service March 8, 1962 - May 31, 1962)

BEDT documents dated June 24, 1963 request $5,000 asking price of #15.

Non-BEDT documents (5/90 issue of Semaphore) shows #15 was sold to G. Hart as well.
This is incorrect, as this engine was sold to Edward Bernard for use on South Appalachian Rwy.

Sometime after leaving BEDT property, an air pump was added
   to the left side of smokebox.

Sold 1975 to Toledo, Lake Erie & Western, in Ohio.

Sold by Keith Brigode in 3/1998 to Strasburg Railroad Corp.;
   Arrived SRC 5/9/98. Was oil-fired, converted to coal; renumbered as Thomas #1.
   Locomotive was modified extensively to resemble Thomas the Tank Engine.
   Cosmetic conversion completed 9/1998; Mechanical rebuilding completed 4/1999;
   Locomotive first test-fired on 4/14/1999; Test run 4/29/1999. In service.

..

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H. K. Porter blueprints for
Mesta Machine Comapny 4 (to become BEDT 15)
 c/n 5966
originals reside in Canadian Science & Technology Museum, Ottawa, CA
hi resolution scans purchased and in authors collection
added 17 May 2019
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1934 - 6A Yard
William J. Rugen photo
Queens Public Library Digital Archives
color corrected by author

added 21 May 2019
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1936 - 5A Yard
William J. Rugen photo
Queens Public Library Digital Archives
color corrected by author

added 21 May 2019
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1936 - North 9th Street float bridge
Note old style herald (barely visible), Baldwin style headlight w/ numberboards, grab rings on all three domes,
one piece pilot foot board, and solid front pilot with bolt on poling pockets.
C. E. Winters photo
authors collection

added 18 March 2010

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May 1, 1936
Note old style herald, Baldwin style headlight w/ numberboards, grab rings on all three domes and one piece pilot foot board,
solid front pilot with bolt on poling pockets.
H. Fagerberg photo
authors collection

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ca. 1939
Note old style herald, Baldwin style headlight w/ numberboards, grab rings on all three domes and
solid front and rear pilot with bolt on poling pockets.

unknown photographer
authors collection
added 30 January 2010

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September 10, 1941 - Wallabout Terminal Market
Note old style herald, and Baldwin style headlight w/ numberboards. Front & rear pilot beams now hollow cast steel.
Without a doubt, one of the most historically important photographs ever taken of a BEDT locomotive!
This is the only known photo of a BEDT locomotive at the Wallabout Terminal Market.
Believed to be at intersection of Clinton Avenue and Metz Street.
R. Wingard photo
F. Zahn archives
authors collection

added 13 Apr 2009

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1946 - Pidgeon Street
Note small Pyle type headlamp, BEDT letter herald, top of steam dome removed, hollow cast steel pilot
and two piece pilot foot boards.
W. Edwards photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

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ca. 1950
unknown photographer
D. Keller archives
authors collection

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1954 - North 5th Street Float Bridge
Pulling away from North 5th Street Float Bridge, enroute to Brooklyn Navy Yard.
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 29 January 2010

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1954 - East River, pulling out of North 5th Street Float Bridge
#15 aboard Carfloat #22 and enroute to Brooklyn Navy Yard (note loaded coal hoppers for BNY powerplant).

This 35mm negative was acquired off eBay in 2011.
it is the same as the preceding images (which have been on this website since 2009 and are from Dave Keller).
Therefore I came to a conclusion that Steve Meyers and Bradford Stiles were at this location at the same time taking photos.
I contacted Dave who was in contact with Steve Meyers to see if my hypothesis was correct. Here is the reply from Steve via Dave:

"Gosh, I haven't heard Brad's name since the first time I left New York in mid-1957. Brad and I were two thirds of a close trio of railfans who spent many years either singly, or as a duo or as a full group wandering around the metropolitan area taking (mostly) electric railway pix. Once we heard that the BEDT was considering diesels, we spent many Saturdays around Kent Avenue before the steam operation ended.."
B. Stiles photo
authors collection

added 01 March 2011

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1954 - East River, pulling out of North 5th Street Float Bridge
#15 aboard Carfloat #22 and enroute to Brooklyn Navy Yard (note loaded coal hoppers for BNY powerplant).
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 04 Sept 2009

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1954 - East River
#15 aboard Carfloat #22 and enroute to Brooklyn Navy Yard (note loaded coal hoppers for BNY powerplant).
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 04 Sept 2009

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September 2, 1954
unknown photographer
authors collection

added 30 January 2010

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September 2, 1954 - North 5th Street
unknown photographer
authors collection

added 30 January 2010

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1955 - North 5th Street
Note crossing shanty of right edge of photo.
unknown photographer
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 29 January 2010

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September 5, 1955
 B. Bente photo
authors collection

added 16 November 2011

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October 6, 1955
unknown photographer
authors collection

added 08 February 2011

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July 1957 - in front of enginehouse pit track by sandhouse
Looking southeast, note rubber factory chimney through rear window of loco,
derail in front on locomotive and front driver is "chained" used as chock to prevent engine from rolling.
F. Zahn photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

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July 1957 - in front of enginehouse pit track by sandhouse.
(almost identical to above photo)

F. Zahn photo

authors collection

added 12 Nov 2008

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July 1957 - in front of enginehouse pit track by sandhouse
(almost identical to above two photos)

F. Zahn photo

authors collection

added 12 Nov 2008

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1957 - foot of North 8th Street
Note Carfloat 26 on right edge. Bennie Kubicki in doorway of loco.
A. Huneke photo
authors collection

added 04 January 2010

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ca. 1958 - North 8th Street bulkhead
Man on firemans side footboard is Charlie Rodgers. Man on engineers side footboard is Bennie Kubicki (sp?).
The three men in front of Invincible are track gang.
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 04 Sept 2009

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ca. 1958
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 29 January 2010

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ca. 1958
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 29 January 2010

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ca. 1958
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 04 Sept 2009

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ca. 1958 - crossing Kent Avenue
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 29 January 2010

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ca. 1958
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 29 January 2010

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ca. 1958
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 29 January 2010

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ca. 1958
This photo negative acquired from eBay. Note debris on track matches debris in next photo above!
(S. Meyers photo?)
authors collection

added 09 March 2011

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ca. 1958
(S. Meyers photo?)
authors collection

added 09 March 2011

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ca. 1958
(S. Meyers photo?)
authors collection

added 09 March 2011

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ca. 1958
(S. Meyers photo?)
authors collection

added 09 March 2011

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ca. 1958
(S. Meyers photo?)
authors collection

added 09 March 2011

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ca. 1958
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 29 January 2010

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ca. 1958
S. Meyers photo
D. Keller archives
authors collection

added 04 Sept 2009

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December 1958
unknown photographer
authors collection

added 14 October 2012

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June 25, 1959
unknown photographer (B. Stiles?)
authors collection

added 14 October 2012

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June 25, 1959
unknown photographer (B. Stiles?)
authors collection

added 14 October 2012


June 25, 1959
unknown photographer (B. Stiles?)
authors collection

added 14 October 2012

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October 1960 - North 9th Street Pier
North 9th Street float bridge to left

R. Ziel photo
authors collection

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x
unknown date
unknown photographer

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April 1961
D. Plowden photo
Railroad Magazine

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April 1961 - North 8th Street
Attaching or detaching electromagnet on crawler crane. Note concrete wall with rail on top for North 8th Street Gantry.
Why is the tank car leaning? Being cut up for scrap?
D. Plowden photo
Railroad Magazine

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April 1961 - East River
#15 on Carfloat #18 under tow by Erie "Scranton"
D. Plowden photo
Railroad Magazine

added 14 Apr 2009

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April 1961 - North 9th Street by diamond behind enginehouse
D. Plowden photo
Railroad Magazine

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June 24, 1961
Karl F. L. Grosche photo
T. Gleichmann archives
authors collection

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June 24, 1961
Karl F. L. Grosche photo
authors collection

added 30 January 2010

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unknown date
unknown photographer
authors collection

added 04 January 2010

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unknown date
unknown photographer
authors collection

added 08 June 2010

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unknown date - at the diamond between North 8th and North 9th Streets behind the enginehouse.
unknown photographer (possible B. Stiles photo)
authors collection

added 10 August 2011

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unknown date - #15 working 8 Pier and #16 working 9 Pier.
unknown photographer (possible B. Stiles photo)
authors collection

added 10 August 2011

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unknown date
unknown photographer (possible B. Stiles photo)
authors collection

added 10 August 2011

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unknown date
unknown photographer (possible B. Stiles photo)
authors collection

added 10 August 2011

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Sometime between the last known dated photo (June 24, 1961) and the next dated photo (June 4, 1962),  
#15 would be shopped, and the square bottoms on the saddletank were welded on.

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June 4, 1962 - North 5th Street
F. Zahn photo

authors collection

added 12 Nov 2008

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June 4, 1962 - North 5th Street
F. Zahn photo

authors collection

added 12 Nov 2008

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June 4, 1962 - North 5th Street
F. Zahn photo

authors collection

added 12 Nov 2008

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June 4, 1962 - North 5th Street
F. Zahn photo

authors collection

added 12 Nov 2008

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June 4, 1962 - North 5th Street
note Derrick Car X11 being towed!
F. Zahn photo

authors collection

added 12 Nov 2008

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June 4, 1962 - North 5th Street
note Derrick Car X11 being towed!
F. Zahn photo

authors collection

added 12 Nov 2008

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June 1962
G. Landau photo
N. & M. Wright archives
authors collection

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June 1962
G. Landau photo
N. & M. Wright archives

authors collection

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July 1962 - North 8th Street
M. J. Herson Jr. photo - slide
A. Miller collection
authors collection


unknown date - North 8th Street
Appearance of locomotive and background details (note contrail) almost identical to above photo,
therefore believed to have been taken same day.
unknown photographer
A. Chione duplicate slide
authors collection

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October 21, 1962
A. Jaeger photo

authors collection

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October 28, 1962
unknown photographer

authors collection

added 29 April 2012

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October 28, 1962
unknown photographer

authors collection

added 29 April 2012

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November 11, 1962
A. Jaeger photo

authors collection

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November 1962
A. Huneke photo
authors collection

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1963 - North 9th Street Float Bridge and Pier Yard
looking west - northwest
unknown photographer

added 13 Feb 2009

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March 1963
A. Bink photo
authors collection

added 14 Oct 2008

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April 28, 1963 - North 7th Street
unknown photographer
Bob's Photo archives
authors collection

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April 1963 - North 9th Street
unknown photographer
authors collection

added 04 January 2010

.

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May 1963 - North 9th Street Float Bridge lead
unknown photographer
authors collection

06 March 2012

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May 1963 - North 9th Street Float Bridge
G. Landau photo
authors collection

slide acquired 15 May 2012

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 May 1963 - North 8th Street A Yard
G. Landau photo
N. & M. Wright archives
authors collection

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July 1963 - North 8th Street Bulkhead
(behind enginehouse)
G. Landau photo
N. & M. Wright archives
authors collection

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July 1963

R. Ziel photo

authors collection

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August 1963 - North 5th Street "B" Yard
Frank Hendrickson at front of locomotive.
M. Herson photo
M. Herson archives

added 16 Apr 2009

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ca. mid 1963
- 8A Yard
Note Bulk Flour Terminal under construction!
unknown photographer

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October 24, 1963

Tom Conroy engineer, Frank Hendrickson on cab ladder.
R. Ziel photo

authors collection

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October 25, 1963 - (Last Day Steam Operations)
unknown engineer, Harry Lynch on footboard, Willie McNeil with lantern?.
R. Ziel photo

authors collection

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unknown date - North 8th Street  to North 6th Street Bulkhead
unknown photographer
authors collection

added 18 Sept 2008

.

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unknown date - North 4th Street (looking east at Wythe Avenue)
(track veering off to the left goes through alley to North 5th Street)
unknown photographer
G. Collora archives
authors collection

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unknown date - Pidgeon Street
G. Collora photo
G. Collora archives
authors collection

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unknown date - Pidgeon Street
G. Collora photo
G. Collora archives
authors collection

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unknown date - Pidgeon Street
G. Collora photo
G. Collora archives
authors collection

Gene related an interesting story to me when I purchased this photo.
Just before he took this photo, he asked the engineer to "smoke it up" and the the engineer complied.
The following week, when Gene returned for more photography, the engineer informed him that he (the engineer) 
had gotten into trouble for the smoke output. Turns out a NYC smoke inspector saw the column of smoke
from Manhattan and saw his way to Brooklyn to chastise the engineer!

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unknown date - Pidgeon Street
G. Collora photo
G. Collora archives
authors collection

added 09 March 2010

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unknown date - Pidgeon Street
G. Collora photo
G. Collora archives
authors collection

added 09 March 2011

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unknown date - Pidgeon Street
G. Collora photo
G. Collora archives
authors collection

added 09 March 2010

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unknown date - Pidgeon Street
G. Collora photo
G. Collora archives
authors collection

added 09 March 2010

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unknown date - Pidgeon Street
G. Collora photo
G. Collora archives
authors collection

added 09 March 2011

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unknown date - Pidgeon Street
G. Collora photo
G. Collora archives
authors collection

added 09 March 2010

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unknown date - Pidgeon Street
G. Collora photo
G. Mahlkov collection

added 19 Oct 2008

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unknown date
unknown photographer
G. Mahlkov collection

added 19 Oct 2008

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unknown date
unknown photographer
G. Mahlkov collection

added 19 Oct 2008

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unknown date
(note stack is wrapped)
unknown photographer
G. Mahlkov collection

added 19 Oct 2008

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unknown date
unknown photographer
authors collection

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ca. 1966 - storage track, PRR Meadows Yard, NJ
(Saddletank, flues and boiler tubing removed. "EJBX" [Edward J Bernard] written on cab.)
B. Yanosey photo
D. Keller archives

authors collection

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February, 1967
(Kearny NJ, PRR Yards)
G. Landau photo
authors collection

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unknown date
(Kearny, NJ - PRR yards)
unknown photographer

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Southern Appalchian Railway
Erwin, TN


Southern Appalachian Railway #15 - May 15, 1973 - Erwin, TN
J. F. Primm II photo
authors collection

added 13 December 2010

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.xToledo, Lake Erie & Western
Grand Rapids, OH


1997

unknown photographer

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.Strasburg Railroad
Strasburg, PA


September 2002

P. M. Goldstein photo

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