Steam & Excursion > J&L Steel 58 Runs Again!

J&L Steel Corp. No. 58, a 24" gauge 1937 HK Porter 0-4-0T, operated again for the first time in over 60 years at the Youngstown Steel Heritage Museum in Youngstown, OH on March 24.  Since the saddle tank's repairs are not yet competed, we used a tote tank on a flatcar to provide water for the boiler for this test run.  The locomotive ran flawlessly and we are looking forward to her first public runs on May 11 and 12.

This rahter unusual locomotive weighs about 45 tons and was used to move ingot mold trains at a Pittsburgh steel mill.  Now as the only operable steam locomotive in northeastern Ohio, 58 will run on selected weekends giving short rides on the museum property while construction commences on an eastern extension allowing operation over a longer distance.  

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That is great!  Thansk for the pics. 
Can someone explain the reasons for the unusual shape of the front of the locomotive?  I'm guessing there is some safety aspect of its intended assignment that led to that?

It was to add additional weight.  These Porters were built to have as much tractive effort as possible, so with 200 psi boiler pressure and 45 ton weight, it had over 16,000 lbs. TE.  
 

Whazz that #3 next to the shop in images 2 and 3?

Greg Stadter
Phoenix, AZ

Youngstown_Steel Wrote:
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> It was to add additional weight.  These Porters
> were built to have as much tractive effort as
> possible, so with 200 psi boiler pressure and 45
> ton weight, it had over 16,000 lbs. TE.  

OK, I thought it might be a heat shield.

Interesting, I never saw a square face before. I would say that it could be a candidate for a Thomas friend.

Well....it is not my favorite steam locomotive...but it IS a steam locomotive. Congratulations guys for getting her running again.

The real "Sponge Bob Square Cab"
ts1457 Wrote:
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> Youngstown_Steel Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > It was to add additional weight.  These
> Porters
> > were built to have as much tractive effort as
> > possible, so with 200 psi boiler pressure and
> 45
> > ton weight, it had over 16,000 lbs. TE.  
>
> OK, I thought it might be a heat shield.
>
> Interesting, I never saw a square face before. I
> would say that it could be a candidate for a
> Thomas friend.

Number 3 switched cars of iron ore, etc removed from Great Lakes ore boats by those big, dockside,  Hulett clamshell bucket unloaders. 

Congratulations are in order! This is a really interesting project that I’ve been following from afar. This type of industrial railroading is quite underrepresented in preservation but this is a nice step forward.

Posted from iPhone

Ryan Barber
Stockton, CA

That is quite a sharp curve on that track!

Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing more of her!

Posted from Android

Thanks everyone for the comments!  The curve is 40' radius.  Initially 58 squealed quite a bit going around the curve but after a few trips the locomotive just glides around.  Some curve grease placed on the inside of the outside rail will help reduce wear.

We will run again on May 4 and the 11 and 12.  

Abqfoamer Wrote:
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> Number 3 switched cars of iron ore, etc removed
> from Great Lakes ore boats by those big,
> dockside,  Hulett clamshell bucket unloaders. 
Yes that's what it did, but what IS it? Steam, diesel, electric.