Sorry it's taken me "all day" to post these, I hope you like them!
The descriptions (in italics) are from the following site: http://www.nctrans.org/Exhibits.aspx
North Carolina Transportation Museum
The pictures aren't that great because I didn't have much room to move around (most were in the roundhouse).
U. S. Navy #65-00556: This locomotive was built by the Davenport Locomotive Works in 1953. The 44-ton switcher was built for the United States Armed Services and saw duty with the Army and Navy. It is currently painted for service with the Navy. It was retired in the late 1980s. Congressman Bill Hefner assisted the State of North Carolina in acquiring the locomotive from the Federal Surplus Depot in Maryland in 1990. It is on loan to the NCTMF and used for switching purposes around the property.
U.S. Army Transportation Corps #7497: This locomotive was built by General Electric in 1943. The Armed Forces used these types of locomotives in the US and overseas in rail yards switching cars or powering local, short distance freight trains. The Transportation Corps was authorized in 1943 to move men and material wherever needed around the world, previously managed by the Corps of Engineers. While not in conflict, the Transportation Corps uses these locomotives to switch military posts and supply depots. The 7497 was last assigned to Hill Air Force Base near Salt Lake City, Utah. The Federal Government in 1991 donated it to the State of North Carolina. The locomotive, still in Transportation Corps paint, is serviceable though does not meet FRA guidelines. It is currently displayed in the Robert Julian Roundhouse.
NC Ports Authority #L-3: This locomotive was built by General Electric in 1943. The 45-ton switcher was used by the Ports Authority in Wilmington its entire career. These locomotives had only one traction motor per truck, and used side rods to turn the other axles. The Ports Authority switched freight brought into the port for shipment overseas. They also moved and loaded freight brought in by ship. State ports are located in Wilmington and Morehead City, NC.This locomotive and the Transportation Corps 45-tonner are the oldest diesel locomotives at the museum.
It's funny, the 44 tonners looked smaller than the 45 tanners, I didn't think they would look "different" but they did, maybe it was just my perception?
Beaufort and Morehead #1860: This locomotive was built by the Fairbanks Morse Company of Beloit, Wisconsin and is a model H-12-44. FM entered the locomotive business rather late, basing the power from their opposed-piston marine engines used in diesel submarines used during World War II. This locomotive was originally purchased by the US Army in the 1950s and used at the Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal before being used to switch the B&M and based in the Morehead City.State Ports. The NC Transportation Museum acquired the locomotive in 2004 after disposition from the State Ports.
Norfolk & Western #620: The locomotive was built by the Electro-Motive Division of General Motors in 1958. The Norfolk & Western Railway was one of the last Class 1 railroads to dieselize, starting in 1959. Part of their main traffic was coal from West Virginia to the Tidewater section of Virginia, and the railroad kept using steam power to show its continued usefulness. The GP-9 locomotive developed 1750 horsepower from its 567-C prime mover. The N&W used GP-9s for freight and passenger trains, the later painted in a Tuscan Red and Gold scheme. Freight units wore basic black. The 620 continued in service, working from Roanoke, VA to Ohio until being retired in 1985, when it was donated by Norfolk Southern Corporation to the NCTHC. Volunteers, using money given by NS Corporation, painted the locomotive in the passenger scheme for use on the site train ride. It receives more use than the others, due to favoritism of the crews.
Piedmont and Northern Boxcab #5103: Built by the General Electric in 1913 as an electric locomotive. Power was supplied either through a 600-volt D.C. trolley pole or a 1500-volt D.C. overhead catenary shoe. The P&N was the only mainline Class 1 railroad in the south to use electric locomotives. They also had a divided right-of-way, with part operating Charlotte to Belmont, NC and the other Spartanburg to Greenwood, SC. The 5103 worked first in SC then ended its service running old trolley tracks in downtown Charlotte in 1958. The 5103 was chosen to be restored by the P&N at their Greenville, SC shops in 1963 and donated to the Atlanta, NRHS Chapter.
Track-mobiles!
Duke Power Company #111: The locomotive was built by the American Locomotive Company around 1922, sold to the Stewart-Jones Company of Great Falls, SC in February 1922 and the Wateree Power Company (later Duke Power Company) on July 7, 1924. This locomotive is similar to the Bonsal #7, except the water tank rides atop the boiler, giving locomotive the nickname “saddle-tank.” Duke Power used the locomotive at their Mt. Holly and Cliffside plants along with the Buck Steam Plant on the Yadkin River north of Spencer. Not much is known of its service before 1942 or after 1953. The locomotive was donated to the State of north Carolina in the late 1970s, and is currently on display in Stall 13 in the Robert Julian Roundhouse.
Graham County Railroad #1925: The locomotive was built by the Lima Locomotive Works in February 1925. This Shay type of locomotive, named after the inventor, was designed for the steep grades, sharp curves and bad track conditions found on logging railroads. The Shay locomotives were different in that pistons were vertically mounted on the engineer’s side of the boiler, using connecting shafts and gears to turn the wheels. The 1925 was used by the Graham County RR to haul logs out of the Snowbird Mountains to the Bemis Lumber Company mill in Robbinsville, NC. The logging portion closed in 1948, but the railroad continued to carry general freight between Robbinsville and Topton, NC, where an interchange was made with the Southern Railway. Due to dropping freight levels and track conditions, the Graham County ceased operations in 1970. In 1974, a tourist operation, the Bear Creek Scenic Railroad, tried to re-open the line to Robbinsville, but also ceased operation within a few years. The 1925 was donated to the NCTHC in 1988, and restored to operation in 1998 to pull the on-site train ride. This locomotive is currently awaiting a mechanical overhaul and is not in service.
Carolina Power and Light #3: The locomotive was built by the H.K. Porter Locomotive Company in February 1937. This 0-4-0 switcher is a “fireless steam-storage” locomotive. There is an insulated tank instead of a firebox and boiler. It could be charged (filled with steam) in about 15 minutes and would run for two to five hours, depending on working conditions. These locomotives were used in power plants, lumberyards, textile mills and other areas where a large, ready supply of steam was available or burning cinders were dangerous. The number 3 arrived at the CP&L Lumberton Plant (known as the Weatherspoon Plant after 1958) in 1949 and used until March, 1980. The locomotive was donated in August 1980 to the State of North Carolina and is currently on display in Stall 13 in the Robert Julian Roundhouse.
OK, now some non-switcher pics (Sorry if anyone is "switcher only fanatic"!)....
Yes, the 611 was in NC! What a treat!
