During the steam era a total of 128 locomotives saw service on the Clinchfield ranging from the 39 ton 4-4-0's to the 500 ton Challengers. In the late 1940's at the height of steam operations, the Clinchfield had an unusually high percentage of articulated locomotives for a medium size railroad. In 1948, the last year of total steam operations, the locomotive roster listed a total of 86 locomotives with 65% being the articulated type. Today, only two of the 128 original steam locomotives have survived. These are the CRR #1 and #99. See photos and history below.
The 673, shown in the photo above, is a class E-3, 4-6-6-4, built by American in June 1943 and purchased from the Defense Plant Corporation in July 1947. This engine was retired on August 10, 1953.
Engine 414 is a Class K-4, 2-8-2 Mike built by A-Brooks and was a general purpose engine used for freight, passenger service and switcher. It was retired in September, 1953 and eventually sold for scrap.
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CRR No.99 |
Engine
CRR #99 is a 4-6-2 "PACIFIC" class, high wheeled, locomotive built in December
1905, by Baldwin Locomotive Works and was the first new locomotive placed in
service on the Clinchfield. It was used solely for passenger service and
eventually sold to the Black Mountain Railroad (North Carolina) in 1954 who, in
turn, sold it to the city of Jackson, TN. in February 1956 for the
Casey Jones Museum. This is the same
type locomotive used by Casey prior to his fatal
wreck.
This engine can now be seen at the museum
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CRR No.1 |
This engine was acquired
by the OR&C in 1900 as 
#1 and renumbered it "5". It was included in the South
and Western purchase in 1902 and later to the Clinchfield in 1908. It was still
numbered as the South and Western #5 when this photo was taken. As observed,
maintenance was neglected by the missing pilot and unkept condition. The engine
during this period was used mostly in work train service during the CRR
construction.
Dante,VA,1908
This
photo shows the #1 after it's
purchase by the Black Mountain Railroad. Up to
that time, it was still identified as the CRR #5. It was again sold back to the
Clinchfield in 1955 when the Black Mountain dieselized. Later that year, the
town of Erwin purchased it for the purpose of developing a display with the
engine. Since it never materialized, the #1 sat behind the CRR shops rusting.
Erwin Yard,1913
and renewed interest in steam excursions,
the engine was completely overhauled at the CRR shops, sporting brass trimmed
domes, air pump and graphite smokebox. It's rebirth maiden trip was made on
November 23, 1968, from Erwin to Kingsport, TN, and return. This was the first
steam locomotive to operate over the line in fourteen years. It was not the
last. In 1979, this historic engine was retired and is now on display at the
Baltimore Museum.
Erwin Yard,1968
The Clinchfield Railroad Depot on Nolichucky Avenue in Erwin, TN underwent extensive renovations.
Photo courtesy of Unicoi County Public Library
Last Updated
07/20/2008