Murdock Town Name

[George Lortz]

The caption on this photo scanned from a Rail & Ties magazine indicates that Murdock was once named "Horseshoe"!!!  Date is 1907.

George L.

[Robert Wheeler]

The names of MURDOCK @ MP 241.4:

According to the 1998 Tour Guidebook: the station was listed as Horse Shoe Bend from days of the New Albany and Salem until CI&L ETT #34 (7/11/1915) when it was listed as Murdock. The telegraph office (Call Mu) was open until May28, 1933 (CI&L ETT#63).

The February 19,2006 List of Stations.... which includes more recently found data has Horse Shoe Bend appeared from L.N.A.& C. ETT #8 or #9 in 1886 until CI&L ETT#33 (4/11/15) and Murdock appeared on CI&L ETT#34 (7/11/15) until CI&L ETT#85 (9/26/46) when it added the list "Additional Stations" (with no timetable authority) 

[Pete Pedigo]

Was there something in the Rail and Tie Magazine that indicated that this is a C.I.&L. engine ?  Because if not I would bet it is not. I would bet it is one of John R. Walsh's loco's from the Bedford Belt or the S.I.  They connected with the monon in the quarry's on the Murdock Branch.

[Ron Marquardt]

I think Pete may be right for several reasons.  First, I kind of doubt the picture was actually taken at Murdock because there are some large buildings in the background.  It may actually have been taken elsewhere in the "Murdock" quarries.  Secondly, I think the Bedford Belt engines were all 0-6-0's with slope back tenders, and this particular one still used link and pin couplers as evidenced by the front pocket.  By 1907 the Monon would have been converted to knuckle couplers, but all the Bedford Belt pictures I've seen always show their equipment with the old link and pin arrangement.  / Ron   

[Ron Marquardt]

Steve Dolzall asked me to post this because he couldn't get the picture to take.  / Ron

Here is Southern Indiana #5 new at Baldwin. It and #8 look to be very close relatives. My guess would be that the photo was taken in the Bedford Yards next to the Southern Indiana Shops.
 
Steve

[George Lortz]

Ron and Pete,

Thanks for your information.  The Monon did have an 0-6-0 locomotive, but I can't find any photos of it.  The lettering on the side of this locomotive is almost impossible to read.  In defense of the Rail & Tie Magazine, the emblem on the side of the cab could be a Monon lozenge and the lettering on the upper side of the tender could be C. I. & L., but without seeing how a Bedford Belt locomotive was lettered, who can tell.

George L.

[Tim T Swan]

My two cents:  I think 0-6-0 #8 is the Monon Class B2 Baldwin shown in Hilton's list.  Looks to me like the lettering on the tender is CI&L and the number style is similar that in use by the MONON in that era.  For an example, see the attached photo of Class G2 4-6-0 #92 taken at Patricksburg.

[Ron Marquardt]

Tim, unless I'm reading it wrong, I can't find a Class B-2 with the #8.  The only B-2 on Hilton's roster was a #6 and it retained that same number after the 1911 renumbering.  / Ron

[George Lortz]

Ron,

Hilton's book lists an 0-6-0 #8 built by BLW and later renumbered to #11.  It was a Class B-4 locomotive.

The book also lists an 0-6-0 #8 built by Rhode Island that was delivered as #68 and later renumbered to #8.  It was a Class B-3 locomotive.

Are there obvious visual differences between the B-2, B-3 and B-4 Class 0-6-0 locomotives?

George L.

[Ron Marquardt]

There may or may not be George.  I don't know exactly how or why they changed the Classes of the locomotives.  There's one more thing that I think is worthy of mention in this discussion.  From the start I couldn't understand why the Monon would put a 0-6-0 yard engine down in the quarries when by 1907 they had 4-6-0's, 2-8-0's, and 4-8-0's available to do the work.  / Ron

[Tim T Swan]

You're right Ron.  I miss-read it.  No #8 anywhere.  My bad.  Happens more and more these days.

[Tom Pinnick]

I have attached a scan from a Crams map of Indiana showing the location of Horseshoe Bend (Peerless PO). It is around the early 1900s. The Stone Road relocation is shown so that helps date it. Note the preliminary route for the future ICG. Unfortunately the original map has deteriorated and this scan is from a 11x14 print I made years ago to document the BSOB.