Steam & Excursion > The Sad Final End To Nevada Copper Belt 2-8-0 #2!

The Nevada Copper Belt Railroad ran for 41 miles, from Wabuska, NV to Ludwig, NV from 1909 until the line was abandoned in 1947. The railroad was dependent on copper and gypsum for cargo. The mines along the line were finally played out by 1947.

There were 2 locomotives on the roster at the end of operations. They were NCB #2 and #5, both 2-8-0's.

After the NCB was abandoned ALCO #5 would be sold to the nearby Virginia & Truckee and would serve there until the V&T was herself abandoned in 1950 and #5 scrapped.

NCB #2 was a 1910 product of the Lima Locomotive Works with 18 x 24 inch cylinders and 26,400 pounds of tractive effort. In the first view you can see her rectangular Lima Locomotive Works brass builder's plate still affixed to the remains of her smokebox!

In several of these views we see the scraped remains of #2 in 1947 at Wabuska, NV.

In the 2nd view we see what a good looking engine she was as she posed with #5 and the NCB caboose in 1946. The caboose was sold to the V&T along with #5 and fortunately still survives today.

Unfortunaely, #2 did not survive.



Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 11/09/12 05:43 by LoggerHogger.

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In the first view here, we see Nevada Copper Belt #2 in the Wabuska, NV enginehouse in the winter of 1946 alongside NCB#5. This would be #2's last winter as she would be scrapped the next fall.


In this final scene of destruction we see the cab roof, tender tank and cylinder saddle and driver as the last remains of Nevada Copper Belt #2 at Wabuska, NV in 1947.


Martin



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 11/09/12 04:58 by LoggerHogger.

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Well Martin, this is a sickening way to start my day.

Martin, your photo collection never ceases to amaze me. I feel stupid for asking, but have you ever published any books? I would love to purchase one if you have.

I have my photos in dozens of books that I have helped the authors complete.

I am finishing a book on Shevlin-Hixon & Brooks-Scanlon here in Bend.

Martin

As sad as it is to see scrapped steam, those are some really striking photos. Thanks for posting Martin, very cool...

Cheers, Dave

The stormy clouds in the first photo captured the mood perfectly. Great stuff on a sad story. Were some of these Guy's images?
Tony J.

Tony,

No, these are from 3 different photographers - non were Guy.

Martin

As sad as it might be. The harsh truth is that not everything can be saved.

Unless somebody took over the Wabuska bar Wabuska is in the history books also.

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Martin: When your book comes out would you kindly advise how to order it. I have about forty logging books now and always looking for more.

Long Bell Bob

It's all crap now.

Yup, the principal used to be O'Sullivan Plastics who did dashboard coverings, followed by Poly One
who was doing them for the Toyota plant in Fremont, followed by and empty building and then another
firm going to do plastic collision barriers for highway use that never materialized. There's still some
inbound seed and fertilizer for the Yerington area, and the Fort Churchill power plant gets back up
fuel by rail but it overall is all crap now.

Martin you need to add Gilchrist Timber to your Shevlin-Hixon and Brooks Scanlon book to round out the central Oregon Logging rail lines. Of course we know that the GT line has survived while the other two are long gone. Although I still remember going under the tracks at Indian Ford when I drove for Bend-Portland.

Larry Dodgion
Wilsonville, OR

Wow...what a high-mounted boiler. You could almost fit a sleeper berth under it.