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Another mystery loco - 1907 Rohan 0-6-0

Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2017 7:30 pm
by Glenn Brooks
Hi all,

looking for historical info on this old time 15" ga 0-6-0. Anybody know anything about the John Rohan and Sons boiler maker company, of St. Louis Missouri? Or why/for whom they would build an 0-6-0 15" gauge switcher around 1907??

Maricopa Live Steamers museum in Phoenix acquired this antique 1907 15" gauge John Rohan and Sons coal fired 0-6-0 as a barn find in Texas, and now has the loco on static display in their club's Saguero Museum Museum. Apparently three such locomotives exist today, but museum staff do not know much information about the loco's history. They are looking for additional information to help document this Builder. Anybody recognize the loco? Or know anything about turn of the century John Rohan and Sons boiler maker, of St. Louis, Missouri ??

Thanks
Glenn
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Re: Another mystery loco - 1907 Rohan 0-6-0

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 12:20 pm
by RussellCofIdaho
I don't know anything about this but the inside piston valves are interesting, I don't think I've ever seen a model with them...

Re: Another mystery loco - 1907 Rohan 0-6-0

Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 12:50 am
by Glenn Brooks
Russel, yes, the design is very unusual. Several people have identified this cyclinder casting as a Brooks Locomotive prototype design. Before merging with ALCO, Brooks built locos with inside valve gear, and the sloped cylinder castings have the functional use of moving the valve gear closer inside.

Fascinating that some unknown builder would copy this detail in a miniature loco. Also very interesting to me that they - the builder(s) would produce an 0-6-0. Which leads to the interesting question what and where did they use such a loco??

Hope some one will know something and fill in the blanks at some point.

Edit: here is an example of a Brooks built prototype with inside valve gear and sloping steam chest castings, sent along by a much more knowledgeable and fellow 12" gauge enthusiast. interestingly, he thinks the drivers very closely resemble those produced by Cagney.
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Glenn