Sunday, April 25, 2010

Preserved Branch Mint Railroad , Porter 0-4-0T saddle tank steam locomotive on display near the Chief crazy Horse monument. South Dakota USA. 1984.

Preserved Branch Mint Railroad 0-4-0T Porter locomotive. Near the Chief Crazy Horse monument project. South Dakota. 1984.

I took this photo during a June 1984 motorcoach tour vacation to Yelowstone National Park in northwestern Wyoming. Seen here on display near the then under construction Chief Crazy Horse monument in the state of South Dakota. I do not recall what town this was in, but this old 1920's era Porter industrial narrow guage 0-4-0T saddle tank steam locomotive made for a nice roadside display.

No longer pulling mine cars on the Branch Mint Railroad, today it visually greets tourist in it's own sheltered display site.

1 comment:

Great Buffalo said...

This may be of interest to you. I am an amateur historian working on some projects in the Black Hills and have spent some time tracking down info this little loco. Natalie was moved out of this shelter but little is known of her travels away from Crazy Horse Mem. Since her return she has been left out in the elements and has deteriorated badly. I took pictures of her just recently and she is in rough shape but would be an easy restoration. I discussed her future with the folks at CHM and been asked to acquire more info on her and present it to the board. I am hoping this effort leads to the restoration that this piece of Black Hills history deserves and possibly finding a more appropriate home as the CHM feels she just doesn't fit in with their mission and scope.