I believe I read in an article about the restoration program of ACL #143 that 6 (six) ACL steam engines are still in existence. I know about #1504 in Jacksonville, #1031 in Spencer, N. C. # 250 in Wilmington N. C. and #143 in Parrish, Fl. That is four, so where are the other two. Thanks

-- Dick Kearns (rhenryk3@aol.com), May 31, 1998

Answers

I'm pretty sure Larry meant to say ex-ACL 2-8-0 No. 712, not No. 719, is located at the SC Railroad Museum. That being the case, the number of known surviving ACL locomotives remains at five. Any chance of Mr. Kearns contacting the author of the restoration article referenced in the initial question and inquire how he came up with six remaining ACL locomotives?

-- Buddy Hill (palmettoLTD@hotmail.com), June 04, 2000.

Atlantic Coast Line number 712 may be number six. http://www.trains-trams-trolleys.com/steam.htm $30.000.00

-- Randall Bass (Randall_Bass@despo.odedodea.edu), June 02, 2000.

There is a park in the western part of Waycross that includes a steamer and some equipment. I would imagine local residents know how to get there. I have been by there a number of times but never paid attention to the location.

The locomotive doesn't resemble any ACL units I have seen. May be a logging locomotive.

-- Riley Kinney (rkinney@admin.fsu.edu), August 23, 1999.

The only park I know of in Waycross with railroad equipment is at the Okefenokee Heritage Center, which is northwest of downtown and not at any of the swamp entrances. The Center has a 2-8-2, no. 19 if memory serves, that came from the Rockton & Rion and I don't believe has any ACL ancestry. There are also an ex-ACL coach, baggage car, and M-4 caboose here. Adjacent to the Center is Southern Forestry World, which has a small logging steam engine on display. All are in pretty good shape and accessible.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@aphsa.org), August 23, 1999.

The park John Golden refers to is in Waycross near one of the entrances to the Okeefenokee Park. I have never been there, but have heard and read that there are several old ACL passenger cars there. I'm not sure about the presence of any locomotives.

-- Mark Huband (mhuband@guarantec.com), August 20, 1999.

Gentlemen, I have not been to Waycross in 19 years, but I have heard a rumor that there's a hidden park in Waycross with a 2-8-2 in it, along with a few other pieces of ACL-heritage equipment. I have also heard that the engine is originally AB&C. I haven't been back to Waycross but have always wondered if the rumor is true. If so, perhaps that's your sixth engine!

-- John Golden (Golden1014@yahoo.com), August 20, 1999.

Unless it has been moved in the last few weeks, the 143 was in Lakes Park off Gladiolus dr. near US 41 in south Ft. Myers, FL. It was on a short section of display track, in the open, unprotected from the weather and rusting severely. I believe they have started a restoration fund, and at last work I had, had received $5,000.00 for the project. Still a very long way to go! Walt Swartz Life member & former Board Member, RR Museum of S Florida.

-- Walter Swartz (WaltSwartz-IstraMetalcraft@worldnet.att.net), June 03, 1998.

ACL 2-8-0 719 is supposed to be at the S. C. RR Museum in Rion, S.C. However I can't think at the moment of what the 6th ACL engine might be. There is an ex-AB&C 0-6-0 in Wilmington, DE at the W&W RR but this engine was sold by AB&C just before the ACL merger so it technically can't be considered an ACL engine.

-- Larry Goolsby (LGoolsby@apwa.org), June 01, 1998.