Nostalgia & History > Espee's Roundhouse Goats

Among other memories of the steam era now gone forever are the individualized steam locomotive "roundhouse goats." While searching for a particular photo I came upon these in my collection.

Here is 0-6-0T SPMW564, the Tucson Roundhouse goat. Built as SP 308, then SP1027, it became the 564 in 1917. Photo taken at Tucson October, 1947. - Tony J.

---

Ogden Shops used 0-6-0T SPMW569. Built by Baldwin in 1889 originally as 2-4-2T SP384, it later became SP1159, SP1006 and San Francisco Shops #2 before becoming SPMW569. Photo taken June 1948. - Tony J.

---

The shop foreman at Taylor Roundhouse likes a little streamlining on his goat. Here is SPMW567 at Taylor Roundhouse. Built at 0-6-0 SP1108 by Baldwin in 1903, it was rebuilt to SPMW 2nd 567 in 1940 for Taylor Roundhouse. (date and photographer unknown) - Tony J.

---

Roseville Shops used SPMW572. Built by Baldwin in 1911 as 0-6-0 SP1191, it became SPMW572 in 1948. (date and photographer unknown). - Tony J.

---

Cananea Rio Yaqui y Pacifico contributed locomotives to the SP roster. Built by Alco-Brooks in 1908 as CRYyP 0-6-0 #4, it later became Arizona Eastern #38. After then it was Sp1295 and then rebuilt in 1940 as 0-6-0T #217. - Tony J.

---

One of the very last SP steam engines to leave the Bayshore deadline was 0-6-0T SPMW966. It was "one big goat!" Built by Alco-Schenectady as El Paso & Southwestern 0-6-0 #408, it was renumber #18, then 2nd SP1010, and finally rebuilt in 1937 at SPMW966. Photo at Bayshore January 1960 - Tony J.

---

GREAT PICS! I'd never seen an SP "roundhouse goat" like these before. I'm guessing they're all cruise ships now.

Thomas

Now you know why they were called "Dinkys"!

Thomas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> GREAT PICS! I'd never seen an SP "roundhouse goat"
> like these before. I'm guessing they're all cruise
> ships now.
>
> Thomas


They're probably tugboats that are being used to tow larger ships around a harbor. - Tony J.

I am curious as to the purpose of those oversized shrouds around the boilers?

BaltoJoey

BaltoJoey Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am curious as to the purpose of those oversized
> shrouds around the boilers?
>
> BaltoJoey


To make the engines as short as possible, in order to fit onto turntables while shoving a dead road engine, their tenders were removed and a fuel bunker atttached behind the cab. The "shrouds" are water tanks. It wasn't necessary to carry huge quantities of fuel or water, since a roundhouse goat never wandered far from the bunkers or water tower.

Never heard the SP call their Roundhouse Goats "Dinkys" (although it's possible)..

However, the STREETCARS that the SP operated in downtown Oakland on 18th Street and Franklin Street and on over to Alameda, were indeed called DINKEYS by SP and others..

KRK

SP "Roundhouse Goat" # 217 was assigned to WEST OAKLAND...


KRK

MTMEngineer Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> BaltoJoey Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I am curious as to the purpose of those
> oversized
> > shrouds around the boilers?
> >
> > BaltoJoey
>
>
> To make the engines as short as possible, in order
> to fit onto turntables while shoving a dead road
> engine, their tenders were removed and a fuel
> bunker atttached behind the cab. The "shrouds"
> are water tanks. It wasn't necessary to carry
> huge quantities of fuel or water, since a
> roundhouse goat never wandered far from the
> bunkers or water tower.

Thank you for the explanation. They are quite curious looking critters. :-))

BaltoJoey

Then you've never been called off of the extra board for the "dinky" job at Taylor Roundhouse! Spent a lot of hours sitting in the basement of the roundhouse waiting for moves to be thought up. Hostlers were allowed to work on the Passenger ramp (tracks 1, 2, and 3) and inside the house on 4,5, and 6. The dinky worked the rest of the roundhouse most of the time, except for the peeler lead.