Duluth and Northeastern 29

Duluth and Northeastern 29 is a preserved 0-6-0 switcher steam locomotive built in 1944 by the Lima Locomotive Works for the United States Army Transportation Corps. It is currently owned and operated by the Prairie Village, Herman and Milwaukee Railroad in Prairie Village, South Dakota.

Duluth and Northeastern 29
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderLima Locomotive Works
Serial number8381
Build dateJanuary 1944
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-6-0
 • UICC' h2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.51 in (1.295 m)
Loco weight154,500 lb (70,100 kg)
Fuel typeCoal
Boiler pressure190 psi (1.31 MPa)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size21 in × 28 in (530 mm × 710 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Tractive effort40,000 lbf (177.93 kN)
Career
OperatorsUnited States Army Transportation Corps
Bay Terminal Railroad
Iron and Steel Processing Corp
Duluth and Northeastern Railroad
Prairie Village, Herman and Milwaukee Railroad
ClassS155
NumbersUSATC 4047
BTR 111
D&NE 29
PVH&M 29
Retired1965
Restored1977
Current ownerPrairie Village, Herman and Milwaukee Railroad
DispositionOperational

History

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Revenue service

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No. 29 was initially constructed by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio in January 1944 for the United States War Department during World War II as locomotive No. 4047.[1] It was part of the S155 class 0-6-0 switchers, designed to be used for military service in the Far East, Africa, and Europe, but No. 4047 remained on North American soil.[1] The locomotive was instead used for switching in United States military bases. After the war, the locomotive was sold in March 1947 to the Bay Terminal Railroad (BTR), who renumbered it to 111.[2] The BTR used the locomotive to switch freight cars between different areas in rail yards and harbors within the city of Toledo, Ohio.[2] In August 1955, No. 111 was sold again to the Iron and Steel Processing Corporation, who in turn, sold it in April the following year to the Duluth and Northeastern Railroad (D&NE), where the locomotive was renumbered to 29.[2] The locomotive was moved to D&NE trackage in Cloquet, Minnesota, where it was assigned to switch freight cars loaded with lumber. It was retired from revenue service in 1965, and it was subsequently stored in a sideline in Cloquet.[2]

Preservation

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In 1970, No. 29 was sold to Earl Grice of North Mankato, Minnesota.[2] In 1976, the locomotive was sold again to the Historic Prairie Village, Herman and Milwaukee Railroad (PVH&M), who operates on former Milwaukee Road trackage in Prairie Village near Lake Herman State Park in South Dakota. The locomotive was moved to Prairie Village the following year, and work began to restore the locomotive to operating condition.[3] The No. 29 locomotive was subsequently used to pull 2-mile tourist trains in and out of Prairie Village.[3] In 1999, though, No. 29 was removed from service after problems with its firebox were discovered.[3] PVH&M crews subsequently spent the next thirteen years repairing the locomotive's firebox, and in 2013, the locomotive returned to service.[3] As of 2023, No. 29 remains operational, carrying several passengers on a loop track line around Prairie Village, and whenever the winter season arrives, No. 29 is stored indoors along with the PVH&M's diesel locomotives.[4][5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "United States Army Steam Locomotives". donsdepot.donrossgroup.net. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Duluth & Northeastern". donsdepot.donrossgroup.net. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  3. ^ a b c d "#29 Lima – Historic Prairie Village". Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  4. ^ Nelson, Jerry (September 9, 2022). "Loco for locomotives". Farm News. Retrieved 2022-10-28.
  5. ^ Askren, Mary Gales (June 23, 2021). "Prairie Village to run steam locomotive for Railroad Day; Traditional event scaled back to just one day". Madison Daily Leader. Retrieved 2022-10-28.