BUCKSGAHUDA & WESTERN RAILROAD CO.
  • Home
  • About
  • Locomotives
  • History & Projects
  • Events & Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Locomotives
  • History & Projects
  • Events & Contact

#1 Otto

In the beginning there was Otto:

The B&W's first locomotive (#1, of course) is "Otto", a steam locomotive of the 0-4-0 wheel arrangement built by Henschel of Kassel, Germany in 1939.  Otto weighs about 10 tons dry or 12 tons with coal and water added, and takes about three hours to build up enough steam to go to work, so the engine is only run several days each year. 

The B&W got started in 1966 when the Bauer brothers of St. Marys, PA, purchased a German-built steam locomotive through an advertisement in Trains magazine, and shipped the engine from Germany through Philadelphia to St. Marys. During the overseas journey the crew on the American Merchant decided that the locomotive deserved a proper Bavarian name and chalked "Otto" on the cab, the name stuck! 


#6 Peter


 In 1993 we acquired shay-type steam locomotive, #6. The shay was first built by Peter Lear and served as motive power for his Mohawk Valley railroad in Colebrook, New Hampshire. Mr. Lear's equipment was donated to us by his daughter following his passing in 1994.

We named #6 "Peter" in Mr. Lear's honor. The B&W shop crew built a matched set of trucks to further increase the shay's pulling power. After a boiler swap, new cab, and new water tank, the locomotive today is very much a creation of the B&W’s Tony Weber. The locomotive is lettered for both the St. Marys & Southwestern (which operated Shays over the same grade we use today) and local lumber firm, Hall & Kaul.

Just like Otto, Peter is only fired up a few days per year. 


#2 ED

The B&W finally acquired a #2 with the arrival of a diesel-electric locomotive completely homebuilt by Ed Ducay, a railroad machinist of South Elgin, (Chicago) Illinois. Ed began construction in 1974, and Ed’s family donated the completed engine to us in 1993.
​



#3 NORMAN 

 The first gasoline powered engine added was numbered 3 and named "Norman" for his sometimes-cantankerous behavior. The engine, built by the Vulcan Iron Works in 1924, came to us in 1973 from the Peter Cooper Co. factory in Gowanda, NY. "Norman" was returned to active duty in 1993 after a comprehensive 10 year overhaul.


#4 JOE

Our workhorse! (Also pictured is a sister Brookeville, orange, on loan to B&WRR Co., Inc.)

Engine #4, "Joe" was built in Brookville, PA by the Brookville Locomotive Works in 1965. Named by employees of the Eldred powder works, "Joe" was completely rebuilt in 1983. The rebuilding included re-gauging the wheels from 3 feet between them to our 2 foot gauge.


#5 Henry

While the Peter was being rebuilt, the B&W acquired a 10-ton diesel-hydraulic Plymouth locomotive that had originally been built for International Nickel Co. (INCO) for their Charlestown, WV plant. The locomotive was quickly regauged from 30” to 24” and given #5. Every bit as heavy and powerful as “Otto”, #5 was named “Henry” because Henery is the green engine in Thomas the Tank Engine.
​

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.