This gas mechanical narrow gauge engine was built by the Vulcan Iron Works in 1935 for the Frederick Snare Corporation of New York.  It is one of five identical engines built for the construction of the Tygart River Dam in Taylor County West Virginia. 

FS#2 Fresh out of the Vulcan Iron Works 1935

FS#2 at work on the Tygart River Dam

Upon the completion of the Dam in 1938, it is believed that all five engines were sold to a scrap yard in Philadelphia, PA.  In February 1967, Stan ran across an ad in Rock & Dirt by Harry B. Reiter Company listing 4 of the 5 engines for sale.  In April 1967 the Midwest Central Railroad purchased 2 of the 4 engines for $3,000.00.  Engine number 2 was quickly worked over and put into service as a switch engine.  At that time the engine was painted yellow, and lettered for MCRR MW-101.

Engine number 5 was sold to Rudy Stauffer for the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad in Fish Camp, CA.  It is unknown what became of the remaining 2 engines that were for sale in 1967.  Please let us know if you have any additional information as to what may have happened with them.

FS No.5 at Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

The little engine served faithfully until 2016 when the old Hercules engine was too tired to continue as well as the worn out 4 speed transmission.  At some point during the life of the locomotive the original Hercules YXC engine had been replaced with a Hercules RXC.  When the overhaul began in 2016 a Hercules RXC engine was located in Pennsylvania.  This engine had been overhauled by the US Army in Japan after WWII and was still in the crate from that overhaul.  A similar US Army rebuilt transmission was also located and acquired for the locomotive.  During this overhaul the locomotive received the new engine, transmission and much other needed attention.  The engine was also repainted back to its original colors and was lettered as it was originally “Frederick Snare Corporation Contracting Engineers.”

 

FS No. 2 as she is today after the 2016 overhaul

Original Order from Frederick Snare to Vulcan Iron Works

Builders Tag located inside the cab

Frederick Snare Corporation Asset Number tag located inside the cab