a. OVERVIEW

OVERVIEW - A SURVEY OF THE PRODUCT

THIS PAGE PRESENTS A RANGE OF TYPES OF LOCOMOTIVES

BUILT BY RHODE ISLAND OVER THE YEARS 1866 TO 1907

FROM START TO FINISH - The following two photographs are examples of locomotives built during the first months and during the last months of production.

Providence & Worcester 6 was a 4-4-0 type delivered in December 1866 to the Maryland & Delaware Railroad. It was the sixth locomotive constructed by Rhode Island. The engine was in transit for eleven days. However, due to the financial problems of the M&D , the engine was acquired by the P&W several years later.

Bangor & Aroostock 171 was shipped from Providence in March 1907 when production had come to a virtual standstill. ALCO had decided to end locomotive construction in Providence although over the next several months some uncompleted orders were finished and shipments continued into 1908.

DOUBLE DISTINCTION

Staten Island Rapid Transit (Baltimore & Ohio) 30 has the distinction of being one of the only two center cab "Camelback" type locomotives built by Rhode Island and one of the last shipped from Providence. Records show it was shipped in February 1908.

MILEPOSTS

Boston & Maine 280 was one of the last locomotives built before an economic depression forced the closing of the works from 1896 to 1899. The 4-4-0 type held construction number 3106.

Rhode Island became part of the International Power Company in 1899 but the works continued to build locomotives under the original name which was well known and respected. New Haven 276 was actually built under prior ownership in 1895 but International Power used its photograph for advertising. The 2-8-0 was part of a 25 engine order.

Wabash 653 was part of the first order Rhode Island received after the works opened under the ownership of the International Power Company. The 4-4-0 was one of three shipped to the Wabash in August and September 1899 bearing construction number 3131. The engine was scrapped in 1936 and was photographed not long before.

Santa Fe 829 was one of 25 locomotives in the last order of engines built under independent management. In 1902 , when the Santa Fe order was completed, Rhode Island became part of the American Locomotive Works headquartered in Schenectady, NY. The last of the Santa Fe order, number 849, had the construction number 3376. Locomotives built thereafter would bear ALCO construction numbers.

EXAMPLES OF RHODE ISLAND BUILT ENGINES

Boston & Maine 2916 was built for the Fitchburg Railroad in 1900 just months before it was leased to the B&M. The 4-8-0 type had as long a wheel base as was built by Rhode Island. Originally a compound, the locomotive was part of an order for eight which supplemented ten built by Schenectady the previous year. All were scrapped in 1926 when larger engines were built for the Berkshire grades.

Baltimore & Ohio B-18c Class 4-6-0 was built in 1893, construction number 3345, and scrapped in 1954.

Maine Central 367 was built in 1906 with construction number 40579. Seen at Portland in 1944.

Rhode Island used its own compound system. New Haven 254 was one of two compounds which were part of an order for 16 A-2 Class 4-4-0 locomotives. Note COMPOUND on the cab side. The engine used anthracite coal.

New Haven A-1-a Class 4-4-0 number 1264 was the last American Standard type locomotive ordered from Rhode island except for one small 4-4-0 built three years later. In 1903, when the New Haven ordered 15 of this type and 25 lighter 4-4-0's, the American Standard type engine was infrequently built for mainline service. The 1264, construction number 28549, was photographed with a Providence to Boston local in 1928. It has been improved with a superheater, piston valves and Southern valve gear.

New York, Ontario & Western 26 is an example of an old Rhode Island locomotive rebuilt as an inspection engine. The 1872 built 4-4-0 with construction number 432 was first rebuilt as an inspection engine in 1893 and again in 1903 as shown. It was retired in 1932.

An example of a Rhode Island narrow gauge locomotive. Colorado & Southern B-4c 2-8-0 58 was built with a gauge of 3 feet in 1886 for the Union Pacific, construction number 1593. There were six engines in the order, one of which, C&S 60, has been preserved in Colorado. Number 58 was photographed in Denver June 9, 1936.

Milwaukee 830 was built in 1893 as a 4-6-2 but is not considered the first Pacific since the rear axle was not used to carry an enlarged firebox. It was one of three built for the Milwaukee with a rear axle to reduce the weight on drivers. It was soon rebuilt as an orthodox 4-6-0.

Number 40 has a trailing axle similar to the one pictured above but it was added after the New York, Providence & Boston took delivery of the 4-4-0 in 1887. It also is not considered the first of the type since the rear axle was used to reduce weight on the drivers rather than support an enlarged firebox. The rear axle was removed. The engine was photogrphed at the NYP&B's Acorn Street roundhouse in Providence within sight of the Rhode Island Locomotive Works where it was built as construction number 1733.

Rhode Island generally built conventional locomotives but Central Mexicano 150 was highly unusual. The double mogul (2-6-0-0-6-2) rode on artculated "bogies" and was a compound. Three were built and shipped in December 1892 and January 1893, construction numbers 2808-2810.

Number 2 is an example of the small engines built for elevated rapid transit lines. Many were sold to short-lines when the elevated lines were electrified. This locomotive was part of an order for ten built in 1894 for the Lake Street Elevated Railroad in Chicago. It was photographed as Morristown & Erie 2 around 1925.

Number 1 was built in 1891 for the Bristol Railroad in Vermont. It is typical of the Forney type engines built for light passenger duties having the advantage of not needing to be turned since they operated equally well in either direction. Bristol 1 was construction number 2731.

Burlington G-4a 0-6-0 1638 was built in 1886 as construction number 1638 and was scrapped in 1925.

Part of an order for 12 engines, 1638 was photographed at Des Moines June 9, 1922.

New York Central Lines B-10e 0-6-0 403 was built in 1907 and assigned to the Boston & Albany.

Milwaukee I-3a 0-6-0T 1106 is typical of the switchers that were rebuilt as tank engines to move dead engines at roundhouses and shops. The 1106 was built in 1891 with construction number 2705 and an attached tender. The tender behind the engine is not coupled to it; the tender is left on the siding and used to replenish coal in the roundhouse "goat" since there is little space for fuel on the engine.

Providence & Worcester 31 is an 0-4-0 switcher built in 1881 with construction number 1007. It became New Haven X-7 Class 2823.

Santa Fe shop switcher 2298 was built as a conventional tender locomotive in 1894 for the Chicago, St.Louis & Western, construction number 1490. The 0-4-0 retains the ring at the stack base that once supported a pillar crane used in shop hoisting. Photographed in Los Angeles in 1935 about two years before scrapping.

Middletown & Unionville 7 is typical of the light locmotives that were sold to short-lines when the original owner relaced them with heavier power, The 2-8-0 was built in 1902 for the Detroit Southern, construction number 26868, and was sold to the Belfonte Southern before being purchase by the M&U.

Providence & Worcester 22 was one of the first Mogul types built by Rhode Island. The 2-6-0 was built in 1871 with construction number 261. It was retired in 1908 as an 0-6-0 switcher.

Number 587 was used on a Wabash branch line well after most railroads had eliminated steam power. The 2-6-0 was built in 1899, construction number 3140, and scrapped in 1955. One of the 15 Moguls built for the Wabash in 1899, number 573, has been preserved at the St.Louis Museum of Transportation. A total of four Rhode Island locomotives have been preserved.

AN EXAMPLE OF A RHODE ISLAND BUILDER'S CARD

Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City 29 was built in 1888 with construction number 1938.

Builder's cards provided railroad officials with examples of the locomotives that Rhode Island built and served as advertising. The specifications provided useful information.

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