Locomotive factories - USA: books (2/2)

Simple and Compound Locomotives - Brooks Locomotive Works Catalog (1899)

In 1869 Horatio Brooks, a former superintendent of the New York and Erie Railroad, leased the shops at Dunkirk, New York and opened the Brooks Locomotive Works. It quickly became the largest manufacturer in New York State, and in its second year Brooks built 43 new locomotives for customers domestic and foreign. The 1000th engine rolled off the line in 1884.

By the time Horatio Brooks died in 1887, his company was nearly at its zenith. Production reached a high of 225 locomotives in 1891, but declined in 1894 to only 90 due to a financial crisis. Brooks was eventually forced to merge with the Schenectady Locomotive Works and several other companies, which emerged under the American Locomotive Company name. The Dunkirk plant produced its last steam locomotive in 1928.

This reprint of an original 1899 company catalog is over 340 pages, softbound, black and white interior with color covers.

Heisler Geared Locomotives Catalog

In 1892 Charles Heisler received a patent for a new kind of geared locomotive. Equipped with twin canted cylinders, the engine utilized a driveshaft to power outboard axles and connecting rods to power the inboard axles. As a result of this vee-twin arrangement, the Heisler was one of the fastest geared steam locomotives, providing more power with lower operating costs. Over 600 Heislers were produced from the 1890's until 1941, when the Heisler Locomotive Works closed its doors.

This reproduction of the company's illustrated catalog dates from the 1920's. It shows the full line of Heisler products and presents a compelling argument for their use.

H.K. Porter Company - Light Locomotives

In 1866, Henry Kirke Porter and John Smith opened a machine shop in Pittsburgh and began producing light locomotives for industrial use under the name Smith & Porter. After a disastrous fire in 1871, the company dissolved.
Both partners eventually went back into the locomotive business, with Smith forming the National Locomotive Works which specialized in narrow gauge engines. Henry Porter's company focused its efforts on building four-wheel saddle tank locomotives for industry. These were powered by steam, gasoline and diesel. The company also made a series of compressed air engines for use in mine haulage.

Porter's business thrived and in 1906 delivered almost 400 locomotives. One reason for the company's success was a result of superior design that utilized a system of inter-changeable parts across the line.
This facilitated rapid assembly and delivery to customers, and easy maintenance over the life of the engine. Henry Porter continued to run the company until 1921 when he died at the age of 81. Despite a bankruptcy in 1939, H.K. Porter continued in business up until 1950 when it was liquidated.

This reprint of an original H.K. Porter light locomotive catalog is softbound, 8 x 10, black and white interior, and over 230 pages long.