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Locomotive to get new home
By JIM AUSTIN
Cooperstown Crier
The old Cooperstown and Charlotte Valley
Railroad steam locomotive left the Delaware Otsego
Corporation parking lot Friday headed for a
new home.
The engine is an ALCO — American Locomotive
Company — with an 0-6-0 wheel configuration,
according to Denny Fisher, of Bill Miller
Equipment Sales, who was in charge of the move.
It was built for the U.S. Army in 1942 and was
one of the 100s built for use in Europe during
World War II.
``I’m not sure if the unit ever made it overseas.
It did, however, work at Fort Eustis, Va.,’’ Fisher
said in an email message.
The engine tipped the scales at 140,000
pounds — 70 tons. Its tender was a mere 22
tons.
The truck hauling the engine did not get more
than a block from the parking lot before there
were problems with the trailer it was riding on.
Miller, who has hauled much larger equipment,
said the difficulty was with the trailer because
the correct shims were not put in place,
causing the trailer to drag on the pavement. He
said they tried for hours to add shims to raise the
trailer off the street surface, but were unsuccessful.
Instead they raised the front and drove off. If
the trailer is shimmed correctly, he said, there
would have been no problem.
``These trailers only run a few inches off the
ground, so there is very little room for error,’’ he
said.
``My stay in Cooperstown
was short, but I will be back
to visit someday. Please express
our sincere thanks to
the mayor, and police officers
for there assistance. I
would like to thank the
guys in the lumber store for
cutting the wood for us, and
the two local truck drivers
who helped my driver get
his trailer ready,’’ Fisher
said.
The locomotive is now
sitting at a truck stop along
I-81 in Pennsylvania, while
Fisher waits for the required
permits from the
state.
Fisher said he expects to
be underway again sometime
next week.
The engine now belongs
to Bill Miller, of Eckhart
Mines, Md. Miller is a Caterpillar
dealer who buys,
sells and leases heavy
equipment world-wide.
According to Fisher,
Miller plans to restore the
locomotive to operating
condition.
``The locomotive has
came to a good home, restoration
plans are already being
discussed,’’ Fisher said.
``We have a second steam
locomotive on the property,
a former US Army 611.’’
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