[Date Prev][Date Next]
[Chronological]
[Thread]
[Top]
(erielack) DLW 565
Here is some more info on this locomotive. This account comes from Dick
Whitehead, son of William Whitehead who bought the locomotive from the D&MM.
Dick went on to a career in railroading on the Pennsy, Lehigh Valley, Conrail
and Amtrak, and is now a Consultant. Being that the date of his trip was 1959,
I believe he meant DLW 15 and 10, not EL. If anyone has questions, email them
to me and I will forward to him.
Rich Wisneski
RE: DLW 565
The correct history is as follows:
My dad, William R. Whitehead, purchased the 565 from the Dansville and Mt
Morris RR in 1959. My brother John and I went with my Dad to Dansville, NY to
inspect the locomotive
there. I can recall the trip vividly. We rode out on EL #15 -The Owl. Got off
in Dansville and walked down the hill to the D&MM. There were two steamers
for sale. My Dad asked us both which one we liked and we both picked 565
because of asthetics mainly. (I was 17 and my brother John was 16).
My Dad agreed to pay $2500 for the 565 and we left town on EL #10 - The New
York Mail. The locomotive was shipped dead-in-tow to Chester, NJ for eventual
operation on the CNJ's Chester Branch which ran from Long Valley to Chester,
about 5 miles. The 565 was fired up on several occasions, however it never
made it to "formal" excursions. The name of Black River comes from the Black
River that runs through the Long Valley vicinity. The Chester Branch crossed
the Black River about a mile out of Long Valley. If you look, there are
probably still some signs of the bridge abutments there.
My Dad's attempts to purchase the Chester Branch fell through and all of the
rolling stock, incl 565 was moved to Flemington, NJ. The BR&W RR eventually
sold the 565 to Tony Citro who used it for a prop outside his restaurant in
Wayne, NJ. As you know, it is now in Steamtown awaiting a "cosmetic
restoration". Please pass this along to all interested people.
Dick
------------------------------------------------------------
Visit the erielack photopage at http://el-list.railfan.net
------------------------------