Soo Line B-4 class
Encyclopedia
The Soo Line B-4 class were 0-6-0
steam locomotives constructed for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (Soo Line) by the American Locomotive Company
. Six (#344–349) were built at their Schenectady plant
in 1915, with a further five (#350–354) being constructed by their Brooks plant
in Dunkirk, New York in 1920.
They were the last, and largest design of purpose-built switch engines that the Soo Line owned, any heavier switching duties were performed by down-graded 2-8-0
freight engines. All were still on the active roster in May 1953, but all had been retired by the end December 1954 when the railroad completed its dieselization.
Two are preserved - #363 from the first batch which is displayed at the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum at Tracy, Minnesota
as Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern #9, and #353
from the second batch. which is operational today and gives free rides annually at the Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion, Rollag, Minnesota
.
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
steam locomotives constructed for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (Soo Line) by the American Locomotive Company
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
. Six (#344–349) were built at their Schenectady plant
Schenectady Locomotive Works
The Schenectady Locomotive Works built railroad locomotives from its founding in 1848 through its merger into American Locomotive Company in 1901.After the 1901 merger, ALCO made the Schenectady plant its headquarters in Schenectady, New York....
in 1915, with a further five (#350–354) being constructed by their Brooks plant
Brooks Locomotive Works
The Brooks Locomotive Works manufactured steam railroad locomotives and freight cars from 1869 through its merger into the American Locomotive Company until 1934.-History:...
in Dunkirk, New York in 1920.
They were the last, and largest design of purpose-built switch engines that the Soo Line owned, any heavier switching duties were performed by down-graded 2-8-0
2-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
freight engines. All were still on the active roster in May 1953, but all had been retired by the end December 1954 when the railroad completed its dieselization.
Two are preserved - #363 from the first batch which is displayed at the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum at Tracy, Minnesota
Tracy, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,268 people, 922 households, and 533 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,045.2 people per square mile . There were 1,013 housing units at an average density of 466.8 per square mile...
as Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern #9, and #353
Soo Line 353
Soo Line 353 is a restored 0-6-0 type steam locomotive of the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway B-4 class. It is now owned & operated by WMSTR every Labor Day weekend....
from the second batch. which is operational today and gives free rides annually at the Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion, Rollag, Minnesota
Rollag, Minnesota
Rollag is an unincorporated community in Clay County, Minnesota, United States.The community is located northeast of Barnesville and south of Hawley on Minnesota State Highway 32....
.