« B&O RR Inspection Engine 1870s »
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 4:21PM 
I have always been fascinated by the the more unusual railroad equipment of the latter 19th and early 20th centuries. This inspection engine is one of that genre, used not only by inspectors but by railroad dignitaries. One would assume that inspections could be done quite well and in greater comfort by using a private car behind an engine, but a benefit may be the high elevation afforded by perching the car atop the engine - even higher than a typical engineer's cab position. Surely, since such an engine would not ordinarily be used for anything other than the purpose for which it was designed, it was also something of a luxury – a bit of company arrogance.
Whoever rode in this affair would want to have a degree of faith in the operators since they were literally riding on the most volatile part of any steam engine – I have a few images of what an exploded steam engine looks like after such a mishap (I'll post a couple of them soon)!
The canvas tents in the background of this 4-6-0 engine seem to suggest that this was part of a display, perhaps the 1876 Centennial celebrations, an exposition or industrial exhibition of some kind. Since these engines are not newly painted and spiffed up, it may be equipment currently in use by the railroad, but they could be on historical display if this image is early 20th c. (I am not aware of any inspection engines that have survived as part of transportation museums and I have never seen them except in photos and illustrations).
Unlike the Galloping Goose and other self-propelled railroad equipment, the inspection engine is not popular enough among model railroad fans for them to be available for purchase; I built a scratchbuilt running model in the late 1970s for my own edification.
Reader Comments (4)
Actually, this is not an inspection engine, but a freight engine. It is a CAMEL type of locomotive, and the B&O had hundreds of them. Originally designed by Ross Winans in the 1850s to handle heavy freight drags over the Alleghenies, his 0-8-0 Camels were one of the most powerful locos ever built. Winans put the cab over the wheels to give more weight on the drivers. In fact this particular one is of 1870s vintage, a 4-6-0 HAYES CAMEL, built by Samual Hayes, and still exists at the B&O Train Museum in Baltimore! See, the B&O saved a lot of their old equipment, and they put them on display at a number of fairs like the one here (could be the World's Fair) , including their own FAIR OF THE IRON HORSE in 1928. That loco in the back is the J.C. DAVIS, which also still exists along with many other original pre-1900 locos and rolling stock at the museum. I should mention the Camel was damaged in the roof collapse 5 years ago, but is currently being restored. If you are interested, check out www.borail.org. But this was never an inspection engine, and it is one of two Camels left today.
this is one of the most excellent resourceful websites of its kind.
I enjoy reading it every day.I will be back.armani jewellery
That was my thought,too. ilmonb ilmonb - moncler coats outlet.
Packers Jersey
Aaron Rodgers Jersey
Charles Woodson Jersey
Clay Matthews Jersey
Greg Jennings Jersey
A.J.Hawk Jersey
Aaron Kampman Jersey
Al Harris Jersey
B.J.Raji Jersey
Bart Starr Jersey
Brandon Jackson Jersey
Brett Favre Jersey
Donald Driver Jersey
James Starks Jersey
Jermichael Finley Jersey
Jordy Nelson Jersey
Nick Barnett Jersey
Paul Hornung Jersey
Ray Nitschke Jersey
Reggie White Jersey
Ryan Grant Jersey
William Henderson Jersey
Packers-Jerseys-Shop.com Shop featuring Sports Apparel and Fan Gear
An Green Bay Packers fan? Then our Green Bay Packers shop can help you make your dream come true. Here you can find Green Bay Packers jerseys you want with all kinds of styles and colors. It's easy to get, just click your mouse. Here you can choose many types of Packers jerseys, such as authentic jerseys, , and replica jerseys, they are all of high quality. They are made of high-quality polyester two-way stretch pique fabric and has solid mesh inserts for ventilation. You can also see many jerseys of hot players such as Clay Matthews, Aaron Rodgers and so on; you can choose what you like best from them. They are all free shipping and not tax.