2050

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

There were two ex-N&W Y's at ARMCO Middletown for a while.  I have a
photo showing the two sitting next to the plant.  I assume this was soon
after their delivery to the plant location.

 

G Rolih Cincinnati

 

-----Original Message-----
From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org
[mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Sent: Friday, November 26, 2004 11:18 PM
To: nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
Subject: 2050

 

Gary,

 

I volunteer at the Illinois Railway Museum (IRM) and I have spent a fair
amount of time trying to piece together how 2050 ended up at IRM.

 

2050 was retired by the N&W in 1958, and was sent to Armco Steel Co. in
Middletown Ohio along with several other engines to be scrapped.  As far
as I know, the locomotive spent its entire career with the N&W.  At some
point after arriving at Armco Steel, the scrap yard picked 2050 to be a
stationary steam boiler, and cut a hole in its steam dome to attach a
steam line.  To the best of my knowledge the locomotive was only used as
a stationary boiler for a short time, and then went back to the scrap
line.  Over the years, some of the employees at Armco tried to save a
few of the Y class engines, and 2050 managed to survive into the 1970's.


 

IRM had originally contacted Armco Steel to request a diesel locomotive
donation when they became aware of 2050.  At first, Armco steel wanted
too much money for 2050, and IRM lost interest.  Luckily, shortly after
the diesel was donated, someone from Middletown Ohio who happened to
have a large amount of influence on Armco Steel visited IRM.  They  were
impressed, and worked to convince Armco to donate 2050 to the museum in
1975.  It arrived at the Museum in April of 1976.

 

I know a few of the people who went to Middletown to inspect the
locomotive, clean axle bearing, and get the brakes working.
Unfortunately, 18 years of sitting outside was hard on the locomotive,
and it was in fairly rough shape.  N&W had performed boiled work on the
engine not too long before retirement, but the running gear was very
tired when it was scrapped.  The jacketing and lagging had been left on
the locomotive, and a fairly deep pit was rusted into the top of the
boiler shell.  As far as I know the faded N&W paint scheme was still on
the engine when in arrived at IRM.

 

The tender and top 1/2 of the boiler on 2050 were cleaned and painted
many years ago.  Unfortunately, it really needs a good cosmetic
restoration.  I have been raising money for a cosmetic restoration for
several years, and I hope to eventually raise enough money to get the
work completed.

 

Jason Maxwell

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