B&O Railroad Musuem

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Penn Rail Videos took a trip to the B&O Railroad Museum back in October. Here's our video compilation from that day.

Info below sited from the B&O Rail Museum's website @ borail.org

St. Elizabeth No.4

The St. Elizabeth No. 4 was built in 1950 by one of the country's largest manufacturers of industrial locomotives, H.K. Porter Company of Pittsburgh. The No. 4 was a typical 0-4-0 switch engine, with a saddleback tank draped over the boiler and a compartment to carry coal in the rear. These switch engines were designed for use in areas with severe curvature, such as industrial complexes. The St. Elizabeth No.4 or "Little Lizzie" was used to pull hoppers of coal from a B&O connection to the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Washington, D.C. The coal carried by "Little Lizzie" was used to heat the hospital.

When the hospital switched from coal heat to oil heat, the No.4 was transferred to the U.S. Army's training railroad in Fort Eustis, Virginia. "Little Lizzie" was used in switching practices and was renumbered as USA No. 714. In the 1970s, the training facilities at Fort Eustis closed and the No. 714 was sold to the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia. In 1980, the St. Elizabeth was given to the B&O Railroad Museum where it has been fondly remembered as the last steam locomotive produced by the H.K. Porter Company and one of the last steam locomotives ever produced in the United States.

B&O No. 25 "William Mason"

Between 1830 and 1855, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O) increased its track mileage from 13 to 411 miles. Locomotive designs improved to meet the increasing demands. The most popular passenger locomotive in the 19th century was the "American" type 4-4-0. In 1856, the B&O ordered two "American" type locomotives from Mason Machine Works in Taunton, Massachusetts; one of which was the No. 25. William Mason, the founder of the Mason Machine Works, introduced the idea of turning out locomotives of beauty as well as utility.

The Civil War was the first American military conflict in which railroads were used for strategic purposes. The use of railroads revolutionized the transportation of troops and supplies, and affected the outcome on the battlefield. The No. 25 was used extensively during the war to transport Union troops and supplies. B&O President John Garrett understood the financial and political benefits of siding with the Union, despite his personal ties to the South.

The No. 25 was the first B&O locomotive to have a Stephenson link motion valve gear and a round smoke box set on a cylinder saddle. In 1927, the railroad named the locomotive the "William Mason" to honor its builder. The "William Mason" follows the general form of the original No. 25; however it has been rebuilt and modified as an exhibition locomotive.

Throughout the years, the "William Mason" has been featured in many motion pictures, such as "The Swan," "The Great Locomotive Chase" (1956), "Raintree County" (1957), "Wild, Wild West" (1998), "Tuck Everlasting" (2002), and "Gods and Generals" (2003).