curmudgeon wrote: I'm trying to identify a Mantua "A" Shark I bought.
It has blk over orange paint, sim. to EJ&E scheme, looks factory, but no roadname/number.
Curmudgeon,
The EJ&E purchased the original four Baldwin Shark Demonstrators,
designated model# DR4-4-1500A (& B for "B" units). The EJ&E gave the units numbers 700A, 700B, 701A & 701B. For a grainy black & white photo of these units follow the link...
EDIT-1/18/07-Apparently the "eje.railfan.net" site has disappeared into the ether. Here's a new link with a photo of a shark in EJ&E colors.
http://members.aol.com/centercab/picsmil.html
These engines were purchased by the EJ&E in January of 1950, sold to the B&O in March of 1955 and were scrapped sometime in 1962.
The EJ&E, B&O, PRR and NYC all purchased new sharks, with some of the ex-NYC units going to the Monongahela in the mid-1960's.
Units 1206 & 1215 survived the scrapper, being sold to the D&H and eventually ending up in Michigan.
The PRR also purchased the only passenger (12 wheel) sharks.
For build dates, ownership & disposition, the following links should help:
Freight (RF-16) Sharks:
http://www.thedieselshop.us/BLH_RF16.HTML
Passenger (DR441500) Sharks:
http://www.thedieselshop.us/BLW_DR441500.HTML
Finally, for a view of of the 1205 & 1216 in NYC, Monongahela & D&H paint, follow this link:
http://www.bridge-line.org/blhs/rf16.html