University Campus Railroads |
This 45-ton Porter was not part of the curriculum for those Notre Dame students working towards earning an engineering degree. -- George Krambles photo in April 1954 / Krambles-Peterson Archives |
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New: 1 March 2024 | ||
A survey of several popular on-line locomotive photo databases was conducted recently
to identify universities / colleges that were known to have had a campus railroad; the
objective was to develop a potential diesel locomotive roster. The tally (although preliminary)
was lower than initially anticipated; there had been an assumption that many higher-educational
instituions across tNorth America had at-one-time relied on rail lines for delivery of coal to campus
power plants. In reality, that theory mostly applied to upper midwest campuses where large
coal-fired electric plants were required to heat multi-building sites during cold winters. Photo
evidence strongly supported that suspicion.
With a few exceptions, the list consists mostly of universities from the Big 10, along with Notre Dame from South Bend, Indiana. Motive power was predominantly 44 and 45-tonners that carried either a General Electric, Whitcomb or Porter builder plate; there were also a small number of Plymouth-built units. Self-propelled cranes and track-mobiles were not intended to be part of this profile. Although the survey results were far from definitive, some interesting historic photos appeared from the files of Krambles / Peterson. A couple are included here courtesy of Art Peterson. Additionally, nearly a dozen of the locomotives cited in this profile had served with the U.S. Military during World War II. Declared as surplus after WWII, they were purchased at a Government auction. As for a potential roster, it is on-hold until the data that has been already collected can be verified and / or additional locomotives can be identified. In the interim, here is the preliminary information If you are aware of any other university-owned / operated locomotives, please let us know. Thank you! |
Photo Gallery |
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Michigan State also owned a 35-ton Plymouth (s/n #3932 b/d: 28 April 1938); ex-US Navy Philadelphia Shipyard |
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Ohio State also had a Plymouth CL for 2 years; it was owned by contractor F.H. Latham. |
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UofM also had |
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Reports suggest the University also owned a GE 65-tonner at one time |
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Sources:
contributors:
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