A&Y 531
This locomotive had the following characteristics:
| Construction year | 1903 |
| Construction number | c/n 22177 |
| Constructed by | Baldwin Locomotive Works (Philadelphia, PA) |
| Southern Class | J |
| Cylinder size (inches) | 21"x28" |
| Steam pressure (pound per square inch) | 200 lbs |
| Driver size (diameter) | 56" |
| Weight (in pounds) | 171,550 lbs |
| Tractive effort (in pounds) | 37,485 lbs |
This was another class J Consolidation built by Baldwin in Philadelphia (s/n 22177) in 1903 for the Southern Railway. The number was kept when it was rented/leased by the A&Y.
Originally, the 531 was delivered on March 30, 1937 for rental during the fertilizer season. The rental was supposed to begin March 1, but a hydrostatic test on the 531 at Spencer shops delayed Southern's delivery of engine. The A&Y returned 531 to the Southern on August 11, but rented it again from August 31 to September 3, 1937. The documentation suggests intermittent use on the A&Y in September as well: rented September 6-7 and again on the 9th but there is no documentation showing how long. No matter as the 531 was added to the A&Y lease to replace 254 and 344 starting on October 14, 1937. In a letter dated November 19, 1937 the 531 was valued at $17,600. The rental cost $58.78 per month.
Another letter shows that the 531 was repaired for $3,500 in 1937 and repairs for $6,000 were made in 1938. While at Spencer in June 1946, the Southern estimated the required boiler repairs at $8,000 and this was to be split 60/40 with the Southern paying the larger share. These boiler repairs were put off and instead the A&Y asks for a substitute, the 542 with a 21" wide firebox. The 531 was removed from lease agreement and that was likely the end of the engine, because, according to R.E. Prince, the 531 was retired in July, 1946.
Photos:
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Click on the image to get a larger size. Here the 531 is pictured in Gulf, NC on October 4, 1940. Photo by an unknown in the collection of Tom Wicker, Sanford, NC. Print obtained from Mac Connery, Durham, NC. |
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Here is the 531 again in July 1944 at Sanford, NC, the southern terminus of the A&Y. Photo by ? in the collection of John Porter, Sanford, NC. Print obtained from Mac Connery, Durham, NC. |
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The Greensboro News Record ran an article on the A&Y that included this photograph of engineer J.D. Hill and Dick Nixon posing in the cab of 531. The article title was "Bygone Days Of The Railroads" but I do not know the date. This clipping is in David Bott's collection. |