Alabama By-Products No. 4046 is a 0-6-0 "Switcher" steam locomotive that was built in January 1944 by the Lima Locomotive Works for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. It was the fourth of thirty-seven identical locomotives constructed using road numbers 4043-4071 built between January and February. This engine was assigned the road number No. 4046. The lot of thirty-seven were shipped out and assigned to work at various Army depots all over the U.S.
This locomotive was acquired by Mississippi Valley Equipment Company (MVE) in St. Louis Missouri who had later sold it in May of 1947 to the Alabama By-Products and Coke Company in Tarrant, Alabama. It was used in regular service until August of 1956 when it was assigned as a backup engine for the company’s newly acquired EMD SW900 diesel switcher. It continued serving in this role until 1962.
The Alabama Power Company leased No. 4046 from January to June 1965 during the construction of the Greene County Electric Generating Plant. The locomotive supplied steam during the initial start up but eventually the plant became capable of generating their own steam. At the end of the lease, No. 4046 was returned to Alabama By-Products and Coke Company.
In September of 1969, the Alabama By-Products and Coke Company decided to donate No. 4046 to the Heart of Dixie Railroad Club (now known as the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum) in Calera, Alabama. Today the locomotive can be seen on static display in their yard along with rest of their collection.