Carbon Limestone Company(A Critter Collection) | |||||||||
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Carbon Limestone Company was once one of the biggest suppliers of carbon to the steel and
construction industries in the eastern midwest. It owned and operated a large quarry which
straddled both sides of the Ohio / Pennsylvania state line. Some documents refer to the
location as Hillsville, PA while others call it Lowellville, OH.
Both standard and narrow gauge railroading were part of the limestone supplier's daily operation. Narrow gauge equipment (an unusual 38") worked the quarry and delivered mined material to the crusher building. Standard gauge locomotives moved the processed carbon to a near-by Pennsylvania Railroad spur. CLC relied heavily on small steam power right into the early 1960s; likewise its diesel roster was 100 percent industrial-based, including models from all of the typical builders of critters - Davenport, General Electric, Plymouth, Vulcan and Whitcomb. A roster of known diesel-powered locomotives is provided at the bottom of this webpage.  A make-shift "Carbon Limstone Company" sign hides the identity of the original owner
of second #D-1-- Wrought-iron manufacturer A.M. Byers of Armbridge, PA which ceased operation
in late 1969. Although resembling a 45-Ton GE, the locomotive is actually a 50-tonner.
The image above was taken in April 1979. (Robert E. Farkas photo)  Carbon limestone #D-3 was one of six new 25-ton locomotives (#D-1 through D-6) purchased
directly from Whitcomb during 1950. A seventh similar locomotive (#D7) was purchase two years
later; all seven of the two-axle switchers were configured by the factory to Carbon's 38"
narrow gauge standard. (Jim Marcus photo / Vince Porreca collection).  Carbon Limestone #6 was a 0-4-0T product of the H.K. Porter Company in 1923 (s/n 6793).
Several decades later, the loco was rebuilt to resemble a Civil War era 2-4-0. The
spiffy-looking model was placed at the mouth off the company driveway and route 224 to greet
visitors and passer-bys. (R. Craig photo, April 1971)  Davenport Locomotive's sole contribution to the Carbon Limestone roster was a 10-ton
(DM-diesel mechanical) built originally for Western Contracting of Sioux City, IA. The small
industrial-type switcher had been delivered initially as a 24" narrow gauger, but was
re-gauged to 38." (R. Craig photo, April 1971)  After being abandoned for nearly a decade, Plymouth-built D-9 was purchased by Midwest Central
and restored to operating condition. The four-axle industrial switcher was photographed at Mt.
Pleasant, Iowa in November 2022. (Jeff Terry photo)  The 650-hp Whitcomb center-cab above was the largest and most powerful unit in the
Carbon Limestone locomotive stable. The 65-ton model 65DE19a was originally built for the U.S.
Army during World War II as #8460. (R. Craig photo, April 1971) 
Speaking of military units, it should be noted that #D-11 was one of two rare 45-ton
off-center cab locomotives built in late 1941 by General Electric for the U.S. Army as #7501
(s/n 13142). CLC The #7501 purchased the surplus unit from the War Asets Administration.
(R. Craig photo) 
CLC #14 was one of two units on the roster to sport a Plymouth Locomotive builder's plate.
Built in 1965, the two-axle critter was driven hy a diesel-hydraulic transmission. The
accompanying photo shows the Plymouth after being restored to operational condition by Midwest
Central volunteers after the loco had stood idled for several decades.
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| New: 1 September 2025 | Roster by : R. Craig | |||
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| Model | Road No. | Bldr S/N | Bldr Date | Notes |
| 25-Tonner | D-1 | Whit -- | 3/50 | 38" gauge; purchased new |
| 45-Tonner | D-1 (2nd) | GE 29876 | 6/48 | Ex-A.M. Byers |
| 25-Tonner | D-2 | Whit 40691 | 3/50 | 38" gauge; purchased new |
| 25-Tonner | D-3 | Whit 47000 | 11/50 | 38" gauge; purchased new |
| 25-Tonner | D-4 | Whit 47001 | 11/50 | 38" gauge; purchased new |
| 25-Tonner | D-5 | Whit 47002 | 11/50 | 38" gauge; purchased new |
| 25-Tonner | D-6 | Whit 47003 | 11/50 | 38" gauge; purchased new |
| 25-Tonner | D-7 | Whit 47040 | 6/52 | 38" gauge; purchased new |
| 10-Ton DM | D-8 | Dav. 3104 | 8/47 | Originally 24" gauge, reblt to 38" gauge; ex-Western Contracting; to Service Machine Equipment; |
| 25-Ton MDT | D-9 | Plym 5902 | 4/56 | To Service Machine Equipment D-9 > Midwest Central and re-gauged from 38" to 36" |
| 65-Ton Center Cab | D-10 | Whit. 60436 | 4/44 | Ex-American Car & Foundry < nee US Army 8430 |
| 45-Ton Off-Center Cab | D-11 | GE 13141 | 10/14/41 | Ex-Ringwood Iron Mine 7501 < nee US Army 7501 |
| D-12 | GE 15091 | 1/23/42 | Ex-Ringwood Iron Mine 7506 < nee US Army 7506 | |
| 25-Ton | 14 | Plym 6453 | ]]1965 | To Service Machine > then to Midwest Central and restored and re-gauged from 38" to 36" |
| 8-Ton | D-?? | DAV. 2075 | 7/26 | 38" gauge; ex-De Pasquale Brothers (NY) |
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General Notes:
Carbon Limestone had large mines on both sides of the Ohio and Pennsylvania state line.
Rail shipments were suspended in 1983, and plant closed. Reference source: Brooklyn Army Terminal Railway (on TrainWeb.org) |
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