Jeff -

Very interesting photos. This is the first I had ever heard of an 0-6-6RT wheel arrangement. I wonder if these were the only ones of that particular type ever built?


Les

This is interesting as I just read about the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio this weekend on the Texas Handbook. The railroad started out as the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado Railroad, the very first in Texas. But there was no mention of the the gauge anywhere in the information that I found. It was nice to find out the GH&SA was narrow gauge. Thanks for sharing this info.

Mike S.

The best source for Mason information was a book (author's name forgotten at this moment, library 3000 miles away) on the builder put out by Heimburgerhouse... It will answer the question of whether the these were the only 0-6-4 bogie locomotives built.
Mason had issues of tire wear on early locomotives, blamed on pivot points that didn't pivot as expected. The California engines predate most of the Colorado engines, so can be viewed as "developmental" Part of the solution was a better pivot, the other a lead truck.

California railroads ordered 5 narrow gauge bogies... 3 for the North Pacific Coast, 2 for the Stockton & Ione. The too large Tomalas that was never received, and rebuilt as standard gauge for delivery to the GH&SA. The story of a too big locomotive seems a bit weird... It is reported as too large for shipment on a standard gauge railroad, but was destined for a narrow gauge line with 30lb rail, and tunnels... The other locomotives on the NPC were Baldwin 8-18c (one, Sonoma, preserved in the California State Railroad Museum) cars were originally 8 ton capacity Carter and Barney and Smith... not a heavy railroad or a great fit for an oversize locomotive.

Of the 5 only 3 ever operated in the state... it is possible only 3 ever arrived. 2 stuck, both on the North Pacific Coast, where they were very successful, operating well into the 1900's.

The Stockton & Ione was a still born railroad, for reasons unrelated to the choice of Mason Locomotives... One of the Stockton & Ione engines ended up on the Seattle and Walla Walla, eventually rebuilt from a 0-4-4 to a 0-6-4... still narrow gauge, the other was rebuilt at the factory for a line in the Dakotas, also eventually standard gauge.

Caution, currently traveling, and the above from memory...

Randy

Randy -

Not 0-6-4's. They were 0-6-6's (with a Rear Tank). This was not a typo!

Les

http://www.ironhorse129.com/
So many Mason-Farlies.... Still going through the site to find prudent information.

Jeff -

So ANOTHER 0-6-6RT! And working for Bethlehem Iron Company yet! Keep looking Jeff. Maybe this wheel arrangement wasn't as rare as we first supposed.

Les