Chester & Lenoir #2 on 3-17-1884 0-6-0 Porter 3' Gauge
2 0-6-0 Porter-Bell #196 7/1874 9½x14" 30" New. Named L. M. Grist.
The Chester & Lenoir was formed to make use of the right of way of a broad gauge railroad, the Kings Mountain Railroad, destroyed in the Civil War. The Chester & Lenoir was separately incorporated in North Carolina as the Carolina Narrow Gauge Railroad on February 8, 1872, and as the Chester & Lenoir Narrow Gauge Railroad in South Carolina on February 26, 1873. The two railroads, along with the Kings Mountain Railroad, were merged on April 3, 1874. Grading began in 1874 and the line completed between York and Chester by early 1875. The track reach Gastonia, NC, 45 miles, in mid-1876, and Dallas, NC, 52 miles, by the end of th year. With the help of convict labor, the grade reached Lincolnton in 1877, but the company was unable to lay track or finish the line. Track was pushed to the Catawba River in 1880. After construction of a major bridge track reached Lincolnton, 64 miles in mid-1881, and Maiden, 73 miles, by the end of 1881. By then the company had run out of money and could not complete the remaining 37 miles to Lenoir. The railroad was leased for 99 years to the Charlotte, Columbia & Augusta (then part of the Richmond & Danville system) on September 22, 1882, in return for the R&D completing the narrow gauge to Lenoir in 18 months. With the proceeds of a bond issue of $100,000 the narrow gauge was completed to Lenoir on June 2, 1884. On May 1, 1886, the Richmond & Danville assumed operation of the Chester & Lenoir by leasing the CC&A. After the R&D went bankrupt, the lease on the Chester & Lenoir was abrogated in 1893. In the reorganzation of the R&D system, the plan was originally to include the C&L, but because the narrow gauge was not covering its variable expenses, it was excluded. Neither the receivers for the R&D or the CC&A wanted the narrow gauge, and it was returned to its owners on December 1, 1893. A separate receiver was appointed who operated the C&L until 1897. On February 8, 1897, the C&L was reorganized as the Carolina & Northwestern Railway. On January 1, 1899, the new company put in operation its own line between Hickory and Newton, NC, 9.9 miles, and abandoned the use of the Southern Railway between the same points. The C&NW began laying standard gauge ties in 1900 and completed the change to standard gauge in late 1902.
36-inch gauge, 30-lb. rail. Office at Chester, SC. Main line: Chester, SC to Lenoir, NC, 109.5 miles, of which 10.5 miles, from Newton to Hickory, was over the Western North Carolina Railroad, using a third rail. 4/30/1879: Locomotives: 3. Cars: 2 passenger, 20 freight. 12/31/1884: Locomotives: 3. Cars: 3 passenger, 2 mail, 18 freight, 7 other. 12/31/1893: Locomotives: 3. Cars: 3 passenger, 2 mail, 69 freight. 12/31/1895: Locomotives: 6. Cars: 4 passenger, 2 mail, 80 box, 2 stock, 19 flat, 6 coal, 1 caboose, 3 other. 6/30/1899: Locomotives: 7. Cars: 10 passenger, 6 baggage, etc., 77 box, 8 stock, 27 flat, 9 coal, 5 service.
NEW 5X8 FULL FRAME PHOTO FROM ORIGINAL 616 OR 122 SIZE NEGATIVE I do combine shipping on all orders. If buying multiple photos please add them to cart first and then ask for combine shipping. If needed I will refund excess shipping charges.
I do 5x8 because it fits best for the 616 and 122 size negative formats without cropping.
The TAPLINES RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY watermark will not be on the finished photographs. I always ship with tracking and with cardboard photo mailers.
If you would like a DIFFERENT size print, just let me know. Or if you need just one or two of the photos listed I can list them as a separate listing.
I can make 5X7 or 5X8 ($3 each) 8x10 ($6 each), 11x14 ($12 each) and 13x19 ($24 each print).
I will then list it as a special buy it now just for you.
I can also do special requests, mix and match the photos as needed.
All photos are printed by myself on ULTRA PRO GLOSS Paper on a Canon Proo-100 printer. All prints are made fresh when ordered. I've been photographing, collecting and printing railroad steam locomotive negatives since 1984!
UltraPro is a resin coated, from any inkjet printer, including ones that use pigment inks.
Prints will have bright, bold colors and ultra sharp details and bright white papers like UltraPro are particularly good at reproducing deep blacks and higher contrast. Your black & white photos will be neutral and crisp.