EBT Locomotive Roster
MTC 1

This standard gauge 60 Ton Plymouth CR-4 was not owned by the EBT, but was on the property in Mount Union for several years. The unit was purchased for the Mount Union Connecting Railroad with the intention of operating a short line freight railroad from Mount Union and to the industrial park in Allenport. The unit was onsite by October 2003. The history of the unit is somewhat hazy, but one report indicates it having been the first CR-4 built in 1960 for Jones and Laughlin Steel. Only five CR-4s were produced and all were produced between 1960 and 1965. The four standard gauge CR-4s produced were all purchased by J&L Steel. The CR-4 was available in several weights, the 60 tons of this unit being the heaviest.

Rumor is that the unit was acquired by Kovalchick Salvage from one of their property acquisitions, and the MUC (in which Joe Kovalchick was a partner) was pressured to use this locomotive. As delivered to Mount Union by truck, the locomotive had a black number 3 on its cab side with a yellow body and black frame. ^G1 It is unknown what engine was in the locomotoive, but the CR-4's big brother, the four axle CR-8, had two General Motors (Detroit Diesel) 12V-71 two stroke diesels. These are of the same series as the 6-71 untis in the EBT's M-7.

Cosmetic work was done on the locomotive with it being stripped to bare metal and repainted. A diesel mechanic worked on the until for a couple years, and, in the words of MTC Railroad principal Allen Levin "it was making smoke from the right places". However, the locomotive never ran or moved under its own power in Mount Union. It was very heavy on two axles and so would have been hard on the track.

When the MTC lost its lease on the track in Mount Union around 2011, the locomotive was left behind, along with MTC's other assets. The locomotive was subsequently sold to the Western Maryland Scenic Railway, where it was restored to service as #7, their shop switcher. The locomotive served there for many years before being sold to the Walkersville Southern in Walkersville, MD. According to reports, the locomotive is owned by Jamie Haislip, the WS track foreman, rather than the railroad itself ^G2. The WS has a sizable collection of small diesel switchers including this one.

Another CR-4 was spotted lettered for the the Missouri Farmers Association farm supply and marketing cooperative in Mexico, MO 2-12-1978.^G3

General References

• G1 - William Adams photo, 2023
• G2 - Railway Preservation News - WMSR/MURR Plymouth CR4 Moves to Walkersville Southern
• G3 - Frisco.org - Missouri Farmers Association