Wilmington and Western 98

• Comment: Not enough citations to significant coverage in reliable, independent, secondary sources (the museum is not an independent source). Trainsandotherthings (talk) 17:32, 11 November 2022 (UTC)

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Wilmington and Western 98 is a preserved 4-4-0 American-type steam locomotive. It was built by Alco in January 1909 for the Mississippi Central Railroad. 98 served in 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 #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 Historic Red Clay Valley, inc. In 1961, 98 became stored at the 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 return to steam in 2023.

Wilmington and Western 98
Wilmington and Western engine 98 in 2006
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder ALCO’s Schenectady Works Serial number 45921 Build date January 1909
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-0  • UIC 2′B h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 69 in (1.753 m) Wheelbase 23.83 ft (726 cm) ​  • Engine 56.29 ft (1,716 cm)  • Drivers 8.50 ft (259 cm) Adhesive weight 91,000 lb (46 short tons; 41,000 kg) Loco weight 135,000 lb (68 short tons; 61,000 kg) Tender weight 117,000 lb (59 short tons; 53,000 kg) Total weight 252,000 lb (126 short tons; 114,000 kg) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 12 t (26,000 lb) Water cap. 5,000 imp gal (23,000 L; 6,000 US gal) Boiler pressure 180 psi (1.24 MPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 19 in × 26 in (483 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Stephenson
Performance figures Tractive effort 20,812 pounds-force (92.58 kN) Factor of adh. 4.37
Career Operators Mississippi Central Railroad Wilmington and Western Railroad Class N/A Number in class 1 Numbers 98 Retired 1960 Restored 1972 Current owner Wilmington and Western Railroad Disposition Undergoing overhaul in Wilmington, Delaware

History

Revenue career

#98 was constructed by the American Locomotive Company’s Schenectady, New York plant in January 1909, and it’s design was based the general 4-4-0 engine designs built from 1837 to the early 1900’s. The Mississippi Central Railroad purchased #98 for use in pulling their shortline passenger runs. 35 years later, in December 1944, #98 was retired from the Mississippi Central before being left in dead storage, and in 1947, it was sold to steam engine collector Paulsen Spence. Spence first had #98 used on the gravel-hauling Comite Southern, a 1,000-foot industrial spur, in Tangipahoa, Louisiana. The engine was also planned to run on the proposed Louisiana Eastern Railroad, which would have bypassed the congested rail lines of New Orleans. Spence’s collection of steam engines peaked a total of 37.

Tourist career

Prior to Spence’s death, #98 was purchased in January 1960 by Thomas C. Marshall and T. Clarence Marshall. The Marshall brothers planned on using #98, along with other steam engines, on a proposed tourist railroad that would run on an abandoned Baltimore and Ohio branch line in Wilmington, Delaware. While the branch was being redeveloped for tourist operations, #98 was moved to the Strasburg Rail Road in Pennsylvania for temporary storage.