Here is a photo of Towanda Coal Compaly "H.D.V. Pratt" CN: 82 built in 1870 by the Smith and Porter (Later H. K. Porter) locomotive works, Pittsburgh for use inside the mines at Barclay, Bradford County, PA. I have lots of information on this locomotive and how it was used in case anyone is interested.

Regards,
Mark Stonbraker

I am. is it compressed air or fireless?

Definately Steam there Dave, the Crosshead Lubricator, stack, firebox and saddle tank are the giveaways to look for.
Nice find Mark, I've always been a sucker for small Porters but stuffed if I'd want to operate one underground, the low headroom model shows the intended purpose.

Give me a Motor anyday.

Chris
in New Zealand

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Alive and Well....for now

yea, I realized that after I posted the question. I still want to know more about it.

I'd love to hear what you have on it. I've been in some of the old Barclay mines. Did you know when Glen Alden scooped up all the smaller companies they sold an entire colliery that was disassembled and relocated to a semi anthracite mine near towanda? We were talking to a guy up there that told us all sorts of info on the area and he had a huge ammount of artifacts. "digger" on here knows more about him and that area.....

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it seams just a little insane to me to operate a steam engine in an active mine, what with the fire and all in a place surrounded by fuel.

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creeps of the world..........unite!!!!!!

Not many other options back then......

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Another option is the "Fireless Cooker" it is basically a steam engine w/o a firebox. It is basically a giant thermos. It was "charged" with steam and water from a stationary boiler, and when it used steam, the pressure dropped and some of the water flashed to steam. after a while, it was necessary to recharge the locomotive at the stationary boiler. (I think that I got that right) they were used in chemical plants, explosive factories, oil refineries, and anywhere a regular steam locomotive could not be used for fear of a spark causing a fire and/or explosion. I find that they are relatively easy to reproduce in a model, because I can just cut the firebox and fuel bunker off of a tank locomotive, and extend the saddle tank to encompass the whole thing. The Chessie (Chesapeake & Ohio) had 3 of them. They were the class C-8, I beleive.

Pittsbugh Yinz know that thing was build good N'at

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I don't understand the "fgxd" and "Pittsbugh Yinz know that thing was build good N'at" What is that supposed to mean, or is it an inside joke?

Heyna I think. And Easter Pa accent.

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I don't have all the answers.
I don't even know all the questions!

fgxd was supposed to be deleted and "yinz" and "N'at" are pittsburgh language

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"You know that thing was built good and that"

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Dunder Mifflin, the people persons paper people.

Ah. thanks! Althugh, I have no trouble understanding Yooper, for some reason, and I live nowhere near the UP!

Hello Everyone,

Sorry I haven't been checking the posts. Yes, interestingly they were to be used in "well ventilated" mines and I have found a wealth of information on them. Brookfield Coal Company near Sharon PA had an issue with one where carbon monoxide build-up killed six miners. Baldwin, Porter and I imagine quite a few others builders made these locomotives available for use in and around the mines. Anyone interested in what I have gleaned so far can contact me by email at:

stoney17111@yahoo.com

Towanda Coal Companys' neighbor, the Fall Creek Coal Company had purchased a very similar locomotive a few months prior and it is likely they influenced others in and around the Barclay, Towanda and Blossburg areas.

Regards,
Mark Stonbraker