Article #94: Virginia Carolina 2-6-0 #50 Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum Newton, NC (June 14, 2025)

 

In this new article we will be getting a closer look at Virginia Carolina 2-6-0 #50 which is preserved at the Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum in Newton, NC.

This locomotive has a very long history. It was built in 1922 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO). 

This locomotive was built to run in Cuba where it was going to be #1. The Cuban order thereafter was cancelled, and the locomotive was shipped to the Osceola Cypress in Palatka, Florida where it became #50. The locomotive had the name of the engineer stenciled under the cab window. The name was E.T. Summersill. He was the engineer of this locomotive. It served the Osceola Cypress for nearly thirty years,

After operating on the Osceola Cypress, it then moved over the Virginia Carolina Chemical Company of Nichols, Florida. While it was operating for the chemical company, it hauled phosphate rock for the most part. It also got a slope back tender where better visibility was the result. It was retired in 1958 where it would end up at Adair Park in Lakeland, Florida.

It resided at the park for fifty-one years (1961-2012). Then in 2012, it made its way down to Newton, North Carolina where its new home would be the Southeastern Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum. It was the first piece of rolling stock to arrive at the museum. 

#50 remained in its original paint for quite some time even after arriving at the museum. In 2019, #50 was able to get a brand new paint job. The name of the engineer E.T. Summersill was put under the cab window, just like it was when it was first built. For the better part of this year, #50 has been receiving more restoration. 

This locomotive is one of the more interesting steam locomotives that can be seen.