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Wilmington and Western 58
Wilmington and Western 58 is an 0-6-0 "Switcher" type steam locomotive, originally built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in for the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railway, preserved and operated by the Wilmington and Western Railroad. HistoryRevenue serviceNo. 58 was built in October 1907 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works.[1] It was the sixth out of seven engines constructed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia for delivery to the Atlanta, Birmingham and Atlantic Railway, with the others numbered 53-57 and 59.[2] Compared to the AB&A's 2-6-0 and 4-6-0 engines, which were similar in size in spite of their longer wheel configurations, Nos. 53-59 held a higher adhesion rate and a greater tractive effort.[2] In 1926, the bankrupt AB&A was acquired by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, who reorganized the railway as the Atlanta, Birmingham and Coast Railroad the next year. Following this, Nos. 53-59 were renumbered 22–28, with No. 58 being renumbered to No. 27.[2][3][6] Before the AB&C completely merged with Atlantic Coast Line, Nos. 22, 24, 26 and 27 were sold during World War II to Georgia Car and Locomotive Company, a rebuilder and re-seller of railroad rolling stock.[2][5] Nos. 26 and 27 were subsequently sold again to the United States Army Transportation Corp, who renumbered them to 6962 and 6961, respectively.[2][3][4] Later, No. 6962 was scrapped, while No. 6961 was sold in 1947 to the Virginia Blue Ridge Railway, where it was renumbered to 4 and used to pull train loads of titanium dioxide and aplite out of the mines the Railway served.[2][4][7] In May 1951, No. 4 was acquired by the Mead Corporation of Lynchburg, Virginia and was renumbered to No. 300, it served the Mead Corporation until they ceased operations in the early 1960s.[3][4][6] In 1963, Malcolm Ottinger purchased No. 300 for use to haul tourist trains on his Valley Forge Scenic Railroad alongside 4-6-2 No. 425, No. 300 continued service until being retired in the late 1960s.[6][4] Excursion serviceIn 1973, No. 300 was purchased by Brian Woodcock, who was the president of the Wilmington and Western Railroad in Delaware.[4] The engine's road number was reverted to its original, No. 58, and it was subsequently put into public storage.[3][5][4] In 1976, No. 58 participated alongside 4-4-0 No. 98 in the United States Bicentennial Celebrations of Hockessin, Delaware.[4][6] In December 1988, No. 58 was moved to the Avondale Railroad Center for display alongside some Ex-Pennsylvania Railroad MP54's.[3] No. 58 was placed on static display at the Avondale Railroad Center in January 1989 and would remain on display for the next nine years.[6] In December 1997, Brian Woodcock outright donated No. 58 to the W&W, with the wish that the engine be restored to operating condition.[3][5][4][6] No. 58 was moved out of the Avondale Railroad Center on January 24, 1998 were restoration work on No. 58 official began.[6] After eleven months of work, No. 58 was test fired on November 6, 1998.[6] No. 58 returned to service on November 28, 1998 were it hauled the annual Santa Clause special during the 1998 holiday season, since then, the engine became the second official steam motive power on the line and operated alongside No. 98 between the Ez-Baltimore and Ohio line between Wilmington and Hockessin.[1][3][4][8][6] On May 23, 1999, No. 58 became dedicated as "The Veteran's Locomotive".[3] On September 30, 2000, No. 58 traveled to Amtrak's Wilmington station to participate in the annual Riverfront Transportation Festival.[6] On November 11, 2007, the locomotive celebrated its 100th birthday.[6] In 2013, the engine was removed from service to undergo an FRA-required overhaul.[5] The overhaul took four years to complete before No. 58 re-entered service in 2017.[5] Simultaneously, No. 98 was taken out of service to undergo a similar overhaul, leaving No. 58 as the sole-operating steam engine on the W&W in the present time.[5] See also
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