I found this on another site. It was called a double Fairly-type steam locomotive. Built in the Baldwin shops about in 1909. Photo is 5x7 glass negative.
That's spelled Fairlie. They enjoyed some popularity on narrow gauges in the U.K., particularly Wales. They aren't geared. Flues go both directions from a central firebox, and steam passes to the swiveling trucks through interesting spherical joints in the pipes. They look more than a little like the original Mallets, but their frames aren't hinged and they aren't compounds.
I think only one side has the actual boiler and the other side has the coal where a boiler would be assumed to go. -Mike
No, you're thinking of the Forney type. Yes, that says El. People in Manhattan and Chicago in the late 19th century had these things chugging over their heads. Fairlies had more traction than Forneys, but Forneys were much more popular, and Doug put his finger on the reason why. Fuel and water stops were very frequent. Stops didn't take long, but they were constant. By the way, Doug, fuel and water are in the square tanks on the catwalks beside the boiler (or is that boilers?). When I say fuel supply was why Forneys were more popular, that's probably too simplified. Forneys had more range if they also had water tanks beside their boilers, but at least in the U.S., most Forneys didn't. Elevated railways didn't need either the potential extra range of the Forney or the extra traction of the Fairlie. So they probably chose Forneys for better visibility and less complexity. And maybe lighter weight; Fairlies had two sets of cylinders and valves, flues and smokeboxes.
Possibly not as obvious to some eyes, as these were built into the structure of a tender-less locomotive, not removable. Many folks are probably more familiar with the so-called "saddle tank" we saw here in the USA. Which was a separate yet removable construction, bolted on.
A photo of that locomotive is on the Fairlie locomotive Wikipedia page. The design is called Péchot-Bourdon; it was designed for a very narrow gauge, I guess like a trench railway. They were French, but Baldwin probably stepped in during WW1 to increase production.
Very likely. But Baldwin exported a lot before and after the Great War, too. They weren't afraid to pay royalties, and often improved the various types.
I just remembered that I have a book called The Locomotives that Baldwin Built (published 1966), and conveniently it has a small segment on this locomotive (and shows a similar photo to Rick A's original). The latter part of the book includes lots of builders photos and captions about locomotives throughout the history of Baldwin. It also reproduces and earlier publication called History of the Baldwin Locomotive Works. I think the segment on the Péchot locomotive originates from that text. Here is the text reproduced: "The French Government, late in the summer of 1914, sent a mission to the United States to make certain purchases. Early in November, 1914, the mission received cable instructions from France to purchase 20 tank locomotives of a gauge of 60 centimeters (1' 11 5/8"), which were to be built to American designs and shipped as promptly as possible. The Baldwin Locomotive Works took this order on November 3rd, and the 20 locomotives, boxed and ready for shipment overseas, left the Works on November 21st. This was the beginning of a series of orders from the French Government which included both steam and gasoline locomotives totaling over 1,000 in number. Among these were 280 locomotives of the "Pechot" type. Designed for service on the narrow (60 centimeters) gauge lines in the advanced areas. These locomotives were built throughout to the metric system of measurement, in accordance with designs furnished by the French Government. They were carried on two steam driven trucks or bogies, thus providing unusual flexibility and excellent tracking and riding qualities. The boiler had two fireboxes, placed in the middle between the bogies; and there was a separate boiler barrel, smokebox and stack at each end of the locomotive. The total weight in working order, with water tanks and coal boxes filled, was 28,100 pounds. These locomotives were built during the years 1915 and 1916. The illustration above represents the design." The illustration in mention is about the size of a large postage stamp; the photo in this thread is much better. It seems like the Péchot locomotives were not the first to be built in the French Baldwin order. The text does not mention what kind of locomotives the original ones boxed up were. Three weeks to build 20 locomotives seems like a quick turnaround from order to completion.
Sounds like two boilers to me. But if I'm holding my mouth right as I squint at the pic, there's only one steam dome, right in the middle of the cab. Only one steam dome, only one boiler? Two fireboxes and the steam dome. I see why the cab has no glass in the windows and a clerestory roof too.
Am I right in thinking that a number of Fairlies were used in the trenches during WWI? That sounds like the purpose of the order Trainiac's post addressed. Seems like they would lend themselves to that use, being double ended. Frequent fuel and water stops would likely not be a big problem in that type of service.
Along with Forneys and other lightweights, yes. https://blogs.scientificamerican.co...rchive/miniature-locomotive-for-war-use-1915/ For those who know the trenches zigzagged, and are scratching their heads and saying, "Wut?": Trench trains ran from rear area bases up to the trenches, not in the trenches. Excuse us if we're confusing.
Another interesting book to get would be Colonel Péchot: Tracks to the Trenches. It looks like a recent publication, but it has a drawing of the locomotive in it. https://www.camdenmin.co.uk/products/colonel-pechot-tracks-to-the-trenches This website has a few sample pages from the book with other drawings and photos. If documentation survives, it might be located in the Baldwin Archives. SMU has some scanned online, and there is more in the Pennsylvania state archives.
