Builder Construction No. Date Type Wheel Arrgmt. Power Gross Weight Horsepower

Plymouth 3368 November,1929 WLG13 0-4-0 Gas Mechanical 10 tons Unknown

History

 –  Built new for the Santa Catalina Island Company (no number), Avalon, CA;
 –  American Bridge Company (No number), Los Angeles, CA
 –  M. Lummus Company (No number), Richmond, CA
 –  Judson Steel Corporation (No number), Emeryville, CA
 –  Howard Wise, Richmond, CA & George Childs, Jr., Oakland, CA
     private owners; on loan to PLA, July 1975-2001
 –  Dennis Mann, Half Moon Bay, CA, & Johnathon Kruger, San Leandro, CA
     private owners, 2001
 –  On loan to NCRy, stored serviceable, Brightside Yard, Sunol, CA

Plymouth Model JLA
By Johnathon Kruger

Company Background – The Plymouth line of industrial locomotives first began production in 1909 as the J.D. Fate Company of Plymouth, Ohio. In 1919, after the consolidation of three manufacturing companies, the Fate-Root-Heath Company was formed and continued producing Plymouth locomotives. Sold in the 1950’s the company became Plymouth Locomotive Works, changing again to Plymouth Industries in the 1970’s. In 1999 the Plymouth line of locomotives became a brand of Ohio Locomotive Crane. The original factory was closed and moved to Bucyrus, Ohio. Since 1909 over 7500 small industrial rail locomotives have been built under the Plymouth name.

Locomotive History – This small Plymouth locomotive, known as a Dinky, is a 10-ton model JLA, builders number 3368, built in November 1929. The locomotive is equipped with a Climax R4 gasoline engine, friction clutch, and mechanical transmission with 4-speeds forward and reverse.

Plymouth produced 116 model JLA locomotives between 1925 and 1950. This particular Dinky is one of only a handful left still running with its original 1929 built gasoline engine and mechanical transmission. The locomotive was built for the Santa Catalina Island Company of Avalon, California, and was used to transport rock and other materials to build Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors.

In 1940 the Dinky was sold to the American Bridge Company in Los Angeles and was used in construction work including building of the Shasta Dam. In 1965 it was moved to Richmond, CA, and sold to M. Loomis Company. In 1972 the Dinky was sold again and moved to Judson Steel Corporation in Emeryville, CA, and was used as a switcher in the scrap yard. At Judson Steel the locomotive became inoperable and the cab and hood where damaged.

In 1976 the Dinky was bought by George Childs and Howard Wise, moved back to Richmond, CA, and mechanically and cosmetically restored (including fabricating of a new cab) as Castro Point Railway No. 103. In the late 1980’s the Dinky was moved to Niles Canyon and used to move cars around Brightside yard until the arrival of Santa Fe locomotive No. 462. In 2001 the Dinky was sold to Dennis Mann and Johnathon Kruger and was given a new paint job. The locomotive is on loan to the Pacific Locomotive Association.

Sources:   Pacific News  November 1980,
Critters, Dinky’s & Centercabs; Jay Reed