Live Steam Model J

[nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org]

That was one of at least three live steam locomotives built by 
Machinist W.E. Cowling at Bluefield. He had built a K and a generic 
Pacific before that. The J was completed in the later 1940s and the 
company used it for a variety of publicity things including parades, 
grade crossing safety education programs and for the officials at their 
company retreat, Camp Obidah, now obliterated by I-77 near Bluefield. 
They had a track and at least two "Arrow" style coaches as well as 
replica signage at the camp. Once the Saunders regime came into power 
and the elimination of references to steam power, the J sort of 
disappeared. It belonged to Cowling, he built it on company time and 
was with it when it was used.  It was a 7 1/2 gauge, 1/8 scale model, 
he made all the parts and castings himself, according to what I have 
been told.

I tracked down the model in the early 1980s by finding Cowling's 
brother in Bluefield. He told me it had been sold some years before to 
a fellow near Cincinnati. I tracked this man down, he did indeed have 
the locomotive, stored at a Rish Equipment warehouse near Cincinnati. 
He was not interested in selling it but invited me to stop and see it 
anytime, I was never there. Bob Claytor also tried to purchase it a few 
years later and was unsuccessful. The owner decided to sell 7-8 years 
back, wanted to get in touch with Claytor and was told he was a few 
years too late. His address and phone number are no longer correct and 
I have no way to find him, nor the Class J.

Ken Miller

On Jan 23, 2005, at 3:06 PM, nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org wrote:

> My neighbor has a picture of a live steam model of a Class J 
> locomotive. According to the caption with the photo, it was 
> constructed by a machinist working at the Bluefield machine shop. It 
> was operated for some period at a camp near Bluefield.
>
> Does anyone have any additional information about this model or know 
> its whereabouts today?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Ron Davis
>
>
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