Wilmington and Western 98: Difference between revisions

| disposition = Undergoing overhaul in Wilmington, Delaware

}}'''Wilmington and Western No. 98''' is a preserved [[4-4-0]] American-type [[steam locomotive]]. It was built by the [[American Locomotive Company]] (ALCO) of [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]], [[New York (state)|New York]], in January 1909 for the [[Mississippi Central Railroad]]. 98 served in [[Passenger train|passenger service]] over an extensive 35-year period before being retired by the railroad in December 1944. In 1947, Paulsen Spence, chairman of the [[Louisiana Eastern Railroad]], purchased No. 98, continuing in operation until 1960. From then on, it was purchased again by Thomas C. Marshall Jr., the founder of the [[Wilmington and Western Railroad]] and [[List of Delaware Byways|Historic Red Clay Valley, inc.]] In 1961, 98 became stored at the [[Strasburg Rail Road|Strasburg Railroad]]. It is rumored that Strasburg crews wanted to operate 98, which is how it ended up being painted in a Strasburg paint scheme. 98 was moved to the Wilmington and Western in 1964, and following an extensive overhaul, it returned to operation in the Fall of 1972, and is now one of only two American-type locomotives in regular service East of the [[Mississippi River]]. In December 1996, 98 briefly operated in its late Mississippi Central Railroad appearance with a centered headlight and relocation of the bell. 98 returned to its W&W paint scheme after 1997. Since 2017, 98 has been out of service for its Federally Mandated 1,472-Day inspection, and it will likely return to steam by 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wilmington & Western Railroad - Delaware's Operating Railroad Museum |url=https://www.wwrr.com/ride/equipment/steam-locomotives.aspx |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=www.wwrr.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=wrp_admin |date=2019-03-25 |title=A Visit to the Wilmington & Western Railroad |url=https://railfan.com/wilmington-western/ |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=Railfan & Railroad Magazine |language=en-CA}}</ref>

 

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