Carbon Limestone Steamers( A timely transition from an industrial mining career to one in entertainment) | ||||||
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As illustrated here last month, Carbon Limestone employed an unique roster of industrial-type
diesel critters at its large quarry in the far-eastern reaches of Ohio/western Pennsylvania.
Prior to the early 1960s, the quarry operator also used a notable mix of standard and
narrow-gauge (38") steam engines. Most of the steamers were 0-4-0 saddle tanks built by
Davenport (4), Heisler (3), Porter (21) and Vulcan (7). The last ten were constructed after
1920. Long before the quarry ceased operations in 1983 and was re-purposed as a landfill,
nearly all of the final group of steamers went to work in the "entertainment" field after
retirement. (Entertainment in this discussion includes tourists pikes, amusement parks, museums a
nd public displays.)
In many instances, the narrow gaugers were operationally or cosmetically restored, saddle tank removed and a tender added, plus conversion to either 2-4-0 or 2-4-2. One of the earliest steamers to join this list was Petticoat Junction & Ghost Town railroad #9 (ex-CLC #38) located in Panama City, Florida. The amusement park was based on a very popular 1960's television series. The park closed by the mid-1980s, and the "9-Spot" was moved to Colorado for restoration. Another popular venue was the Cedar Point & Lake Erie Railroad located on the southern shore of Lake Erie in Ohio. The #4 a converted 2-4-0 (ex-CLC #34) began its tenure on the CP&LE in 1964, and is now only occasionally used. Next comes tourist pikes. The New Hope Valley, a heritage railroad in Bonsal, North Carolina, operates both diesel and steam. When last checked, ex-CLC saddletank #17 was the railroad's only steam engine among its roster of ten diesels. There was also the Lahaina, Kanapali & Pacific of Hawaii which operated two very photogenic narrow-gauge Porters #1 and #3 (ex-CLC #36 and 35 respectively). The LK&P was forced to close in 2014. Status of the two steamers is unknown. There are other ex-Carbon Limestone 0-4-0Ts that had evaded the cutting torch and found homes in museums and as static exhibits; all are shown in the summary at bottom of this webpage. Updates and corrections to this list are solicited. |
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| Photo Gallery | ||||||
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 CLC #17 -- New Hope Valley in Bonsal, North Carolina operates a Vulcan 0-4-0T
(s/n 4309, b/d 9/41). Self-sufficient, the tourist line locomotive carries 470 gallons of
oil and 1,250 gallons of water in its on-bord tanks. (Photo by Logan Allen) |
 CLC #30 -- The specific disposition of Carbon Limestone #30 (Porter s/n 6792,
b/d March 1923) after its retirement remains very cloudy. Initially, it was believed the
Porter had gone to the Iron Horse Central in Minnesota; a second source placed the small
tank locomotive in Massachusetts. However, there is also evidence that the CLC #30 worked
its final days in Montana at another limestone operation and was eventually made a static
display. (Photographer unknown) |
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CLC #31 -- Carbon Limestone #6 was a 0-4-0T product of the H.K. Porter Company
in 1923 (s/n 6793). Several decades later, the loco was rebuilt to resemble a Civil War-era
2-4-0. The spiffy-looking model was then placed at the mouth off the company driveway and
Highway #224 to greet visitors and passer-bys. (R. Craig photo, April 1971) |
CLC #31 -- Here is another view of the #6 approximately four decades later.
After Carbon Limestone closed the quarry operation in 1983, it sold the 2-4-0 to a private
owner who moved the old two-axle Porter xx-miles north to his restaurant in Hubbard, Ohio)
Ohio where it remains on display even today. (Nicholas Katz photo on 1 July 2022) |
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CLC #33 -- After standing idle for many years, Porter-built No. 33 was finally
sold in 1964 by a dealer to Lakeland Amusement Park near Memphis, Tennessee. A very popular
attraction, the loco became known as the "Huff & Puff." The park closed during the 1980s
and the 0-4-0 went to Dry Gulch USA in Adair, Oklahoma. (Photographer photo) |
CLC #34 -- Cedar Point & Lake Erie #4, the "George R," was acquired by the Ohio
amusement park in 1964. The aging Porter (s/n 7348, b/d 3/42) was rebuilt and hauled park
visitors for several decades prior to being placed in a reserve role at the start of the new
century. When #4 is on duly, "It steals the show!"
(Alex Chihak photo). |
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CLC #35 -- When it comes to tourist railroads one of the more picturesque lines
was Hawaii's Lahaina, Kaanapali & Pacific. Its widely popular "Sugar Cane Express" carried
visitors on a six-mile trip through western Maui. LK&P #3 "Myrtle" (s/n Porter 7397, b/d
2/43) was acquired in 1970. (M.J. Scanlon Photography) |
CLC #36 -- Lahaina, Kaanapali & Pacific also owned the No.1 "Anaka" another
Porter and quarry refugee (s/n 7398 b/d 2/43); the "one-spot's" whale-back tender made it
unique. The LK&P was forced to ceased operation in 2014 and placed the property on the sales
block. The two 3-foot gauge steamers were stored serviceable. (Paul DeLuca photo) |
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CLC #37 -- Standard gauge 0-6-0T #37 seen here in an internet photo might just
be the one exception in this discussion. Built in 1944, there has been very little information
published about steam engine. At last report, the locomotive was still privately owned and
that there are plans to restore the eighty-year-old Porter (s/n 7455). (Photographer unknown) |
CLC #38 -- At one time, Panama City, Florida was the home of Petticoat Junction
& Ghost Town #9. The amusement park was designed after the highly popular "Petticoat Junction"
television series of the 1960s. The imaginary railroad's most famous train was the "Hooterville
Cannon Ball," which was steam-powered 2-4-0 #4 (s/n 8217 b/d 11/49). Moved to Alabama, the the
loco's future is questionable. (Photographer photo) |
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 CLC #39 -- When photographer Bob Farkas grabbed this shot in April 1979, Carbon
Limestone saddletank #39 (s/n Vulcan 4328) had not turned a wheel in more than 15 years. The
Vulcan-built locomotive was originally U.S. Army #4. It was sold by the military to Landis
Tool Company prior to its joining quarry operator CLC's roster. |
Additions and corrections to this overview are solicited. -- R. Craig
1 October 2025 | |||||