Trying to identify a steam locomotive photographed c. 1950

[Michael Barera]

The following photograph was taken by my Grandfather, sometime in the late 1940s or early 1950s. It depicts a "Steam Special" for a University of Michigan football game as seen from the Stadium Boulevard bridge in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My Father believes it was run by the Ann Arbor Railroad, but notes it could conceivably be run by Wabash as well. I don't have any other information on the locomotive, its manufacturer, or even its wheel arrangement, so I'd appreciate any identifications about the locomotive that anyone is able to make. I certainly don't expect anything, but after my previous positive experience with this forum (http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopi ... 6&t=156532), I thought that I'd give it a go. Here is the image in question:


(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File ... 0_3-28.jpg)

[Typewriters]

I'm pretty sure this is an Ann Arbor 2-8-0.

Look at this page, and scroll down to the photo CTSaa7.

http://www.trainweb.org/annarbor/Photog ... x_data.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

From the front; slightly above center mounted headlight, bell in front, shotgun (widening) stack, two non-identical domes, pops, two hatches in cab roof. Locomotive overall right size. Looks to have proper lettering - ANN ARBOR on cab sides and perhaps a 2000-series number on the tender.

So my guess then is it's an Ann Arbor G or G1 class 2-8-0.

-Will Davis

[Michael Barera]

Thanks, Will. I really, really appreciate it.

One thing I'm a bit confused about is the line "Schenectady C# 46215 1909" in the link you provided. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't ALCO's foundation (and, essentially, its acquisition of Schenectady Locomotive Works) happen in 1901? So is this an ALCO, and not a Schenectady? Or does the "Schenectady" in the description simply refer to the build location, not the manufacturer?

Please forgive my general ignorance about steam locomotives, and thanks for any clarification you can offer.

[Typewriters]

That's just saying that the locomotive was built at ALCO's Schenectady works instead of "down south" at Richmond. Eventually of course in later years it closed all of the other plants for locomotive building and just built them at Schenectady.

I recall reading that, during the USRA control of railroads, one of the "down south" railroads was issued some ALCO locomotives that were built at Schenectady, but refused them until locomotives built at Richmond were available. Or something like that.

-Will Davis

[Michael Barera]

Thanks for the clarification, Will. I really do appreciate it.