Steam Sunday: Ohio Central 13 in Sugarcreek

Ohio Central 2-8-0 No. 13 leads the northbound excursion train into Sugarcreek on July 4, 1996. The former Buffalo Creek & Gauley locomotive is passing the base of a steam-era water tower.

The late Jerry Jacobson purchased No. 13 in 1993 with the intent of using it as a backup to No. 1551 on the Sugarcreek excursions.

No. 13 has not been in steam since the late 1990s. The Age of Steam Roundhouse website says No. 13 needs significant running gear work and a boiler inspection before it can operate again.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Today’s Ohio Central Steam Memory

The Sugarcreek-Baltic steam train that used to operate on the Ohio Central was commonly pulled by 4-6-0 No. 1551, but not always.

In the top photo it is July 4, 1996, and the motive power is 2-8-0 No. 13, which was built in 1920 by Alco-Brooks.

The locomotive had various owners over the years including the Buffalo Creek & Gauley.

In the bottom photo, No. 13 is shown in Sugar Creek.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Another Ohio Central Steam Memory

The Ohio Central steam program excursions are just pleasant memories now, but they live on in the many photographs made of those trips.

Here is OHCR 13, the former Buffalo Creek & Gauley No. 13. It is steaming along in Sugarcreek, Ohio, on July 4, 1996.

Photograph by Robert Farkas

Thanks, Jerry, For All That You’ve Done

Dear Jerry Jacobson,

Whether it was excursions, steam locomotives or diesel-powered freights, you were there for us then, are there for us now, and, hopefully, you will continue being a railfan friend through all the changes that have been going on and are still going on.

Here are two of my favorite images of Ohio Central past.

In the top image OHCR 13 is towing an Alco switcher toward one of the plants north of Sugarcreek on July 4, 1996.

In a few moments OHCR 13 will uncouple from the switcher, couple onto freight cars, and back them up to the switcher.

For one brief moment in time, OHCR 13 was perhaps the only steam locomotive used in freight service in North America on that day.

Here she is passing a billboard advertising your excursions from Sugarcreek. What good memories this image brings back.

In the bottom image, when you owned the OHCR, it often interchanged with CSX at Warwick. Here is a morning freight with OHCR 7574 and 5407 preparing to leave Warwick and head south on June 25, 1996.

Thank you again. May your present and future endeavors also bring you the thanks that we so owe you for all you have done.

Article and Photographs by Robert Farkas

When 13 Was a Lucky Number

Remember When 13 Was A Lucky Number? Here is Ohio Central 13 sitting at the Sugarcreek, Ohio, station boarding site on a beautiful October 1997 day.

She was originally ex-Buffalo Creek & Gauley No. 13 and was used into the early 1960s making her one of the last steamers in regular service in the United States.

Photograph by Robert Farkas