This 0-4-0 saddle tank tender locomotive was built by Vulcan Iron Works in Wilkes-Barre, PA in 1908. It was one of three steam locomotives ordered by the Florida Phosphate Mining Company for their mining operation in Greenbay, FL.
The locomotive served as the company's No. 2 until it was sold to the Dantzler Lumber & Export Company of Tampa, FL in 1928. Renumbered to 1147, the locomotive spent the next twenty-five or so years carrying lumber around the Tampa docks for their extensive export operations. Originally it was configured for burning coal at some point it was converted to burn wood since Dantzler had plenty of scrap lumber lying around to use as fuel. Vulcan supplied the spark arrestor and wood grate for the conversion. During WWII, the engine would even burn coconut shells that were obtained from a local candy manufacturer due to a short supply of wood.
After Dantzler moved their operations from Tampa to Jacksonville in the early 1950s, the locomotive continued to operate around the Tampa docks moving scrap iron instead of lumber until the late 1950s. At some point No. 1147 was sold to Sol Walkers Scrapyard where it had resided until the 1980's. Because of its age and relatively good condition, it was decided to preserve this locomotive rather than scrap it. It was moved to Lowry Park in Tampa to be placed on static display and was painted red, white and blue for the nation's bicentennial.
In 1988 Lowry Park Zoo was in the process of expanding it's grounds but the almost eighty-year old locomotive at this point was blocking the project. It was moved again eventually winding up in Zephyrhills, FL on the grounds of Dealer's Auction Xchange off U.S. Route 301 where it was painted yellow and had the words "Zephyrhills Express" placed on its saddle tank.
Nowadays the locomotive is in a poor and deteriorating condition. It has fallen off of its rails and is slowly beginning to lean onto its side. Along with all of the rust the smokestack is also beginning to crack. It is unknown if the current owners have any plans or interest in at least cosmetically restoring this locomotive at this time.