#21 J. W. Bowker/Mexico (2-4-0)
J. W. Bowker as delivered. Drawing by Michael Ames. (Right click and select open in |
Facts
Built |
February 1875 |
By |
Baldwin Locomotive Works |
Serial No |
3689 |
Class | |
Empty weight | 65,000 |
Weight on drivers | 48,000 |
Tractive effort | 9,900 |
Boiler pressure | 130 |
Dimension |
14x22" / 48 1/4" / 33 tons |
Cost |
8,000 |
Status |
California State Railroad Museum |
J. W. Bowker at the 1939 New York World's Fair. Behind is a Cumberland Photo courtesy of the
|
History
February 1875 | Built at Baldwin Locomotive Works. Named J. W. Bowker. |
1876 | Renamed "Mexico" |
1896 | Sold to Sierra Nevada Wood and Lumber Company, Truckee, California. Renumbered #3. |
1917 | Retired and stored in the Hobart Mills engine house. |
1932 | Transferred to Hobart Southern Railroad Co. |
July 1937 | Presented to Railway and Locomotive Historic Society Inc. for preservation. |
April 1939 |
Acted in the Paramount Pictures movie "Union
Pacific", starring Joel McCrea and Barbara Stanwyck. 4 of the V&T locomotives was in this movie, #11, #18, "21 & #22. |
1969 | The California State Railroad Museum is started. |
Builder's Specification
Baldwin Locomotive Works
page 141 of Vol 7.
Specification for One Engines, Class 6/22 C Nos. 1 | ||||
For Virginia City and Truckee R. R. 12/19/1874 Drawing No. 1 | ||||
Gauge of Road, | 4 Ft. 8½ In. Play 3/4 In. | Pumps, Kind, | 2, Brass Position. R. and L. | |
Fuel, | Wood | Top Chamber, | Brass Bottom Chamber. Brass | |
Boiler Material, | Iron chipped & chalked inside & outside | Feed Cook, | Two Feed Pipes. Iron | |
Diam, | 40 1/4" | Check, | Brass Case Check Pipe. Copper | |
Plan, | Straight - covered with felt | Injectors, Kind, | None Size. --- Position. --- | |
Domes, | No. One, 28" Position. Over F, B. | Steam Pipes, | --- Feed Pipes. --- Overflow. --- | |
Dome Casing, | Brass Beads. Iron | Check, | --- Position. --- Pipe. --- | |
Mud Drum, | None | |||
Jacket, | Russia iron Bands. Brass | |||
Safety Valves, | 2 B. L. W. Lock, 1 with relief lever | |||
Gauge Cocks, | No. 3 Position. Back | Sand Box, Size, | Round, 27 ½" Bell on top (from 8/28 D 19) | |
Glass Gauge, | With | Body, | Iron Beads. Iron Pipe. Iron | |
Surface Cock, | None | Cab, | Ash, painted | |
Blow Off Cock, | B. L. W. Position. Front | Pilot, | Iron, round bars | |
Fire Door, | Round " For Wood | Bumpers, | Wood | |
Cleaning Plugs, | Brass " Corners | Bu,ping Blocks, | Size. --- Apart. --- Hgt. above Rail. --- | |
Rigid wheel base | 6' 6" | Pulling Castings, | --- Cen. above Rail. --- | |
Total " " | 13' 8 ½" | Pushing Shoes, | none Steps. none | |
Furnace Material, | Steel | |||
Length, | 60" Width. 34 ½" Depth. 38 ½" | |||
Chamber, | None | Truck, Plan, | 2 Whl, Swing bolster & rad. bar | |
Hollow Stays, | None | Wheels, Kind, | Plate, b. t. Diam. 24" Taylor's | |
Crown Bars, | Regular Bolts, 7/8" Taper head | Journals, Diam., | 4" Length. 6" | |
Fire Brick, | None | Wheels Covers, | None | |
Stay bolts | 4" cen. to cen. | |||
Tubes, Material, | Iron Copper rings, f. b. end | |||
Number, | 122 Diam. 1 3/4" Length. 96 1/4" | Tender Plan, | 8 whl. Drawing No. None | |
Steam Dry Pipes, | Wrt iron | Frame, | Wood | |
Grates, | Plain bars | Bumping Blocks, | Size. --- Apart. --- Hgt. above Rail. --- | |
Ash Pan, | Double dampers | Trucks, | Sgr. iron | |
Wheels, Kind, | Plate b. t. Diam. 26" Taylor's | |||
Journals, Diam., | 3 ½" Length. 6" | |||
Cylinders, Diam., | 14" Stroke 22" | Safety Chains, | Single Beam. --- | |
Steam Ports, | 13" Long. 1 1/8" Wide. 1" Bridge. | Brakes, | Double - Wood Brass | |
Exhaust ", | 13" Long. 2 1/2" Wide. | Tool Boxes, | Top | |
Valves, |
|
Tank Capacity, | 1200 Gallons | |
Ecc. Throw, | 4" | |||
Exhaust, | Double | |||
Oilers, | In Cab | |||
Casing, | Iron Painted Covers. Iron finished | Run Board, | Wood Nosing. Brass | |
Stm. Chst. Casing, | Iron Painted Beads, Iron | Lamp Shelf, | Wood Nosing. Brass | |
Piston Packing, | Spring | Head Light, | 23" reflector, to burn Kerosene Corner ??? | |
Flag Fixtures, | None adams & Co. | |||
Steam Gauge, | Brass Stand, Brass Chicago | |||
Guides, | Steel, two bars figure | Clock, | None | |
Crossheads, | Cast iron | Bell Stand, | Large, iron on Sand box | |
Rock Shafts, | Wrt iron | Hand Rail, | Brass | |
Engine Frame, | Solid Braces. Bolted in | Oil Cups, | Rod. B. L. W. Guides. B. L. W. | |
Drivers, diam., | 48 1/4" Centre Diam. 43 1/4" | Number, | 21 | |
Journals, | 8" Long. Diam. 5 ½" | Name, Brass Plate Letters in Cab Panel | J. W. Bowker | |
Tires, Flanged, | Position. all Kind. Steel Size. 2 ½" x 5 ½" | |||
" Plain, | " --- " --- " --- | Mark | V. & T. R. R. | |
Wrist Pins, | Steel tires 3/16" taper | Lake & Gold (seems to be removed) | ||
Stub Brasses, | Capped | Painting, | Wine Color, Style 1 (wine color might be striked over) | |
Spring Staples, | Cast Iron | on boiler {a first class 6" Hooker steam fire pump - 2 sections of (the pump put in was a Knowles No. 6) | ||
Wheel Covers, | Brass pipe | 50' each suction hose- 500' of 2 ½" carbolized | ||
Brake, {see extra ord. 275 | None | hose, with couplings & nozles - iron reel} | ||
Throttle, Kind, | Balance Position. Dome | General Finish, | K4 | |
" as I. E. James, 14 ½ C 3 page 94, second book back | ||||
Smk. Stack, Kind, | Bonnet Diam. Inside Pipe. 14" | |||
Hight from Rail, | Netting. For wood | |||
Comments
#21 J. W. Bowker was originally named after Virginia & Truckee's master mechanic.
When the railroad decided not to name the locomotives after employees or shareholders #21 was renamed Mexico.
#21 J. W. Bowker worked as a switcher in Virginia City and around the Comstock's mines.
The locomotive had a water pump on top of the boiler to be used if there was a fire.
21 has the old style with the handrail stanchions mounted vertically on horizontal supports which extend out from the boiler jacket.
The wheelbase was only 6 ½ feet.
As built:
The cylinder covers were finished iron.
It originally had a "Bonnet" stack with wire nettings all over the top.
The check pipes were copper.
There were no pilot flag holders.
The two pilot-smokebox braces were painted white.
The steam dome collar around the whistle and two safety valves was fluted brass.
The suspension for the pilot truck did not protrude through the pilot deck.
The headlight was specified Crerar, Adams & Co. of Chicago.
The tender wheels were 26-inch diameter.
The lead truck wheels were 24-inch diameters.
Source of information: V&T Locomotives by Stephen Drew, Koenig, Charlie Siebenthal, Dale Darney, Maria Weyraugh.