Finding Four Iterations of a Steam Locomotive

The slide that started the search for a story. There was much to find about this locomotive.

Leaving Baltic on the Ohio Central.

Working on the Laurel Mountain Railroad.

On the BC&G.

When I discovered a slide (top image) of South Penn Museum 622 that I had taken in Ridgely, W.Va., on July 9, 1973, I thought it looked familiar and that there might be more to the story.

So, I Googled “South Penn Museum” and found a friend.

We know it as Jerry Jacobson’s Ohio Central No. 13. Here it is with a northbound train leaving Baltic, Ohio, on July 4, 1996.

Hadn’t I seen it somewhere else? Yes. Here it is in Somerset, Pa., in the late 1960s or very early 1970s as Laurel Mountain Railroad No. 13.

But wait! There’s more! Now I sound like an infomercial.

Several years ago a local railfan who was not a member of the Akron Railroad Club passed away and his slides were given to the ARRC to give to its members.

Although he hadn’t left any information, the slide mount said the slide was processed in 1958, so here is the better of the two BC&G 13 slides he had. I can certainly be thankful for these memories of BC&G 13.

Article and Photographs by Robert Farkas

Tags: Laurel Mountain Railroad No. 13, Ohio Central No. 13, Robert Farkas photography, South Penn Museum 622, steam locomotives