No. 4 with William Mason.
St. Elizabeth No. 4 is an 0-4-0 tank engine built in April 1950 by H.K Porter Company of Pittsburgh for the St. Elizabeth Hospital railroad spur. It was the last steam locomotive built by H.K. Porter when they ceased locomotive production that year.
History[]
The St. Elizabeth No.4 or "Little Lizzie" was used to pull hoppers of coal from a B&O connection to the St. Elizabeth Hospital in Washington, D.C.
When the hospital switched from coal heat to oil heat in 1969, "Little Lizzie" was transferred to the U.S. Army's training railroad in Fort Eustis, Virginia where she was used in switching practices and was renumbered as USA No. 714.
On June 26, 1972, "Little Lizzie" was "discharged" when the post's 714th Transportation Battalion (Railway) ended all steam operations, and the No. 714 was sold to the Cass Scenic Railroad in West Virginia.
In 1980, "Little Lizzie" was given to the B&O Railroad Museum where it has been fondly remembered as the last steam locomotive produced by the H.K. Porter Company and one of the last steam locomotives ever produced in the United States. As of today, the locomotive still resides at the B&O Railroad Museum.
Trivia[]
- Switch engines were designed for use in areas with severe curvature, such as industrial complexes.
- In 2003, St. Elizabeth No. 4 was involved in the B&O Railroad Museum roof collapse.[1]