Wilmington Critter
photos by David HaringWilmington DE
"Today I met with the Riverfront Development Corporation of Wilmington's riverfront,
and we have come to a conclusion that it is to be cosmetically restored. It will be moved
closer to a public walkway, and a comemorative plaque is to be erected near it"
David Haring
7/30/2002
It's a 50-ton, 26 foot-long (excluding couplers), 300 horsepower switch
engine built in May of 1941 by the Atlas Car & Manufacturing Company of
Cleveland, Ohio (a.k.a. Atlas Locomotive & Manufacturing Company).
The engine's original serial number was 2255. It was built for U.S Navy and
identified as #65-00392. The engine was more than likely put into service
at the Norfolk or Philadelphia Naval Yards. The engine was designed as a
45-ton unit, but the Navy specified 5 tons of extra ballast, probably to
improve traction.
The switch engine was operated by Trans Car Services Corporation from at
least the 1970s until the early 1980s. The name Trans Car Services can
still be seen on the side of the engine. Trans Car never numbered the unit.
There is some evidence of the letters "E" and "C" under the painted Trans
Car name. These letters may be remnants of the engine's military days. In
its early days at Trans Car Services the engine was painted red. The green
paint came later.
All photos were generously submitted by David Haring
For information on having photos hosted by the yardlimit see
the Photo Gallery information section in the yard office.
