Steam & Excursion > Lawndale Railway & Industrial Company 2-8-0 No 4

On November 11, 1899, the first regular train of the Lawndale Railway & Industrial Company ran from Lawndale to Shelby, North Carolina, a distance of about 10 miles. In April of 1908, the Lawndale Railway invested in a brand new locomotive, Vulcan built narrow gauge 2-8-0 Number 4. She had 33" drivers, 12 x 16 inch cylinders, and weighed all of 48 tons. In 1909 she was joined by Vulcan 2-8-0 No 5 and this pair of locomotives served the Lawndale Railway & Industrial Company continuously until the end of the railroad in 1945. This image from my collection shows Lawndale No 4 at Lawndale, North Carolina on July 1, 1941.

As always, comments, corrections, locations and additional photos are welcome.

Thanks for looking.

Jack Bejna
Los Angeles, CA

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Jack, I swear, you come up with the most interesting stuff. First that I've ever heard of this outfit. Great post!

Bob Callahan
Monticello, IN

Interesting headlight setup. Looks like 2 of them up there.

It does, yes. With one of them aimed slightly lower than the other. I wonder if that was on purpose?

There also doesn't seem to be a bell rope. I wonder if the engine was OOS at this time? On the other hand, there is still coal in the tender.

The headlights might have been the kind used on cars that ran in the mines.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/11 14:20 by wabash2800.

Mixed Train Daily by Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg, Jr., notes that the Lawndale had what railroad historians at the time believed to be "the smallest combine in operation anywhere".

Cheers,
Jack

I have been reading reports from a NC based NRHS Chapter(not sure what chapter) that is rebuilding one of the former Lawndale boxcars. In fact they have a second boxcar body located and are planning to restore it. Off course they do not have the hardware to finish the trucks and brake systems. also they are working on a ETWNC narrow gauge boxcar that was located recently. They have a real nice work space and have rebuilt the first boxcar nearly completed the body restoration. It was planned to be on display for the NG Conv in Boone, NC. Have not heard if they had the open house?

Dale Brown



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/11 21:10 by DWBrown.