Frisco Silver Dollar Line Nos. 13 and 14 are two 2-foot (610mm) 70-horsepower 0-4-0T type steam locomotives built by Orenstein & Koppel (O&K) of Berlin, Germany in 1938. They are both heavily Americanized and fire on No. 2 diesel oil. Currently, 14 is operational and 13 is used as a spare parts source for 14 until her upcoming major overhaul. As of 2023, 13 is out of service awaiting an eventual major overhaul in the coming years while 14 is one of four operable locomotives on the Frisco Silver Dollar Line at the Silver Dollar City amusement park in Branson, Missouri, the others being 0-4-0T type Nos. 43 and 76 and converted 0-4-0 type No. 504.
History[]
O&K twins Nos. 1 and 2 were constructed at Orenstein & Koppel's Berlin-Drewitz shops in 1938. They likely rolled out of the factory on the same day and were both bound for the same building contractor in Germany. The only difference is the serial number, with No. 1 having a serial number of 13168 and No. 2 having a serial number of 13169.
When No. 1 left for America in the 1960s, No. 2 went to the Herman Sivers gravel plant until 1973. The locomotive was said to be one of the last 2-foot gauge steamers operating in Germany. In the 1970s, it was sold to an estate in Northfield, Minnesota owned by James G. Machacek, who was also the owner of 504.
The locomotive sat at Jim Machacek's Northfield & Cannon Valley Railroad until his passing in 2012. In 2016, his assets were sold to the Silver Dollar City theme park in Branson, Missouri. No. 2 was disassembled and overhauled with a new boiler, cab, structural repairs, and cosmetics. It was renumbered 14 appropriately after her twin sister.
No. 1 came to Silver Dollar City in 1967. It was renumbered 13 (after a state highway) and Americanized with a new cab, cowcatcher, and diamond stack. It also received a new boiler in 1992.
13 and 14 reunited in 2018. They both look diverse from each other as they both took a different path in their lives after being separated for many years.
13 operated trains until late April 2017 and was later pulled from service indefinitely when No. 504 debuted on the Frisco Silver Dollar Line on June 18, 2018 to make room in the roundhouse for new additions. 13 is temporarily being used as a source of spare parts for 14, but it will eventually be rebuilt in the coming years and it is planned for it to be similar to its twin's appearance. When 13's overhaul does occur, it will also be converted from a 2-4-0T type back into its original 0-4-0T type designation just like Nos. 43 and 76.
On May 25, 2023, an incident occurred with the old-style consist being pulled by 14. Behind the Fireman's Landing area, the last two cars detached from the rest of the train after a sudden jolt from a derailment. Following the incident, the railroad was closed and later reopened again on May 28, 2023 after a quick investigation.
Trivia[]
- As of 2023, 14 is the largest and most powerful engine on the FSDL.
- 14 is the second-heaviest at approximately 14 tons. It is about 1.6 tons heavier than when it was in 1938, due to its bulky cosmetic appearance and oil tanks, which are heavier than coal.
- When 13 entered service on the FSDL, it was converted from an 0-4-0T type to a 2-4-0T type, but it will eventually be converted back to an 0-4-0T type once its major overhaul takes place.
- 13 and 14 were originally built to burn coal, but they were both converted to burn No. 2 fuel oil to run on the FSDL.
- 13 made its last run in late April 2017 before being taken out of service indefinitely later on in early 2018 awaiting for a future major overhaul.
- 13 and 14 have both worn several different whistles on the FSDL. 13 has worn a D&RGW 5-chime, an AT&SF 6-chime, a Southern 3-chime, and a homebuilt 4-chime, among others. 14 has worn a CMO 3-chime, a Shortbell Hancock 3-chime, a GN 5-chime, a CN 3-chime, and an AT&SF 5-chime, among others. Right now, 14 currently carries the CMO 3-chime.
- 13 is temporarily being used as a parts source for 14 until it eventually goes in for its eventual major overhaul after FSDL 43's overhaul.
Gallery[]
