Does anyone remember or hear of “for hire” small engines that would go out and do odd jobs on larger railroads?
Bill;
That concept is new to me, but it sounds intriguing. Perhaps it was similar to today’s practice of using other railroads’ power when you have a locomotive famine and they have a power surplus. I do have a book somewhere that shows a Reading T-1 running over the PRR, as they (PRR) were short of power, but that is similar to the current swapping of power.
Hope someone else can fill us in.
Regards, David Meashey
P.S. Found the book. It is a soft cover entitled The Reading’s T-1, An Unusual Northern by Rod Dirkes. The PRR power shortage happened in 1956. It is covered on pages 31 through 41.
The only thing I know of, and it isn’t involving railroads neccessarily is construction equipment.
Small locos and dumper cars and track were leased/rented/sold to companys to complete construction projects such as highways, railroads, dams, etc.
At the completion of the project the equiipment returned to the leasor and waited the next project.
I saw around 15 years ago the Vermont Central using Canadian engines.