It was called a double Fairly-type steam locomotive. Built in the Baldwin shops about in 1909. Photo is 5x7 glass negative.
Library of Congress photo.
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Fairly type locomotives were fairly common in Mexico as well as Central and South America. As I recall several were built in narrow gauge configurations as small as 2' gauge. A very interesting design to be sure!
There were a lot of odd looking locomotives built by Baldwin. As GG14877 mentioned, many of them were exports to countries down south and were used on large plantations.
Check out this The Locomotives That Baldwin Build by Fred Westing (and no it's not $437, look at the used books option). It has pictures and stats of over 300 locomotives that were build at Baldwin over the entire span of the company's history, including many unique locomotives.
Well, apparently that is a Pechot-Bourdon sub-type Fairlie locomotive. But I only knew that because the wiki page for the Fairlie type has THAT specific picture at the bottom and the type.
Very interesting read.
@scale rail posted:It was called a double Fairly-type steam locomotive. Built in the Baldwin shops about in 1909. Photo is 5x7 glass negative.
Library of Congress photo.
NOT 1909, but 1915 for the French Military (BLW serial number 41944), according to information on RYPN.
Bet the Fireman kept busy firing two boilers!
@Chuck Sartor posted:Bet the Fireman kept busy firing two boilers!
As small as that thing is, I'm sure it wasn't a problem. It was probably designed/built as a Trench Locomotive.
That's a Fairly odd loco.
Not Baldwins, but double headed Fairlies on the Ffestiniog Railway:
Rusty
I'm learning every day from this forum. Thanks Don
Maybe it's the era they were made, but steam locomotives can be downright phantasmagorical like nothing else...except maybe pipe organs. There's a reason they call it "steam punk"
Whoa...Times Square....the locomotive looking like a steampunk idea also hit me the same way!!
Sorta thing Jules Verne would design, I imagine. That engine looks like something from the movie, "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen". RIP Sean Connery...
Can only imagine how warm it was in there.
Where would you store the fuel?
Is one boiler for forward, and the other for reverse?
Jan
@Rusty Traque posted:Part of the side tanks on the fireman's side are coal bunkers.
Image: Multiple Online Sources
Rusty
I finally get it. It is built like opposing tank locomotives. The side boxes carried water and coal. I would suppose both boilers could be fired simultaneously.
@Jan posted:Is one boiler for forward, and the other for reverse?
Jan
No.
.
Look at the rods on that thing!
Is that a common arrangement, just compactly constructed;
or a specialized one?
Perry
Certainly an unusual design. But was it really practical? I would guess you don't see many of these around.
Reminds me of a PushMe PullYou.
Fairlies were generally only used on short narrow-gauge lines, like 2' gauge lines in Wales or Scotland, so didn't need to carry a lot of fuel or water. They were designed as a way to combine the power of two engines while still being able to go around sharp narrow-gauge curves - much like Mallet engines.
@Rusty Traque posted:Not Baldwins, but double headed Fairlies on the Ffestiniog Railway:
Rusty
Beautiful Country, thanks for the video. Nice interesting whistles on both engines.
I did not see or ride behind one of those on the Ffestiniog....worse luck. I wonder if any standard, or even narrow, gauge ones were sold to CONUS lines.? Would not be surprised to learn a few hauled sugar cane in Hawaii. I encountered more than one teakettle RR in Wales, and wonder if there is a guidebook of them? A reason to bat past the station with the longest name in a rental car .."Aieee! Keep to the left! Keep to the left!"
@colorado hirailer posted:I did not see or ride behind one of those on the Ffestiniog....worse luck. I wonder if any standard, or even narrow, gauge ones were sold to CONUS lines.? Would not be surprised to learn a few hauled sugar cane in Hawaii. I encountered more than one teakettle RR in Wales, and wonder if there is a guidebook of them? A reason to bat past the station with the longest name in a rental car .."Aieee! Keep to the left! Keep to the left!"
Five were built in England for Canadian Railways, all narrow gauge: Toronto & Nippising (1,) Toronto, Grey & Bruce Railway (1) and Cape Breton Island Railway (3.)
Mason built one in 1887, but I have no idea who, if anyone bought it.
Rusty
@Hot Water posted:NOT 1909, but 1915 for the French Military (BLW serial number 41944), according to information on RYPN.
Well THAT explains a lot about the double ended design!...it covers both the attack as well as the retreat!
