REPUBLIC STEEL CORP. #191
Builder: ALCO
Build Date: April 1916
Type: 0-6-0 Switcher
Status: Display
In 1916, the Central Alloy Steel Company of Massillon, Ohio ordered several 0-6-0 Switcher type steam locomotives from the American Locomotive Company of Schenectady, New York. The 191, originally No. 3, was one of them.
Designed to switch freight cars around at Central Alloy’s mill in Massillon, No. 3 and its sister locomotives were transferred to the Republic Steel Corporation when that company acquired Central Alloy in the 1930s. Republic Steel renumbered the locomotive to 191.
In the mid-1960s, the 191 and its sister locomotives were retired in favor of diesels. The 191 and sister locomotives 190 and 192 were sold to Duffy Locomotive Sales in Columbus, Ohio, and later to J. David Conrad that same year. Mr. Conrad sold the 191 to the Monticello Railway Museum (then known as SPUR) in 1969 and graciously allowed museum volunteers to remove various parts from the other two locomotives for spares, as they were to be scrapped due to their poor condition.
The 191 was moved to the museum in 1971, and after several months of repair work, it operated for the first time in Monticello on October 9, 1972. During this time, it was lettered for the Monticello & Sangamon Valley Railway. The 191 operated alongside the museum’s other steam locomotive, No. 1, into the 1980s.
As is the case with many 0-6-0 type locomotives, their weight takes a toll on track, and No. 191 was starting to damage the lighter track at the museum. By the end of the 1986 operating season, the 191 was in need of a new set of boiler tubes, and it was withdrawn from service so that work could be done. Once the old tubes were removed, it was found that a new rear tube sheet would be required, which was fabricated and installed. Further inspection found additional issues with the firebox, and it was eventually determined that the best option would be to retire the locomotive and place it on static display. Today, the venerable switcher is displayed at the Nelson Crossing depot.
Scroll down to see photos of No. 191 over the years.
No. 191 sitting in storage at Columbus, Ohio before coming to Monticello.
No. 191 leads an excursion train past the Nelson Crossing depot in 1986.
After being withdrawn from service at the museum, No. 191 had some cosmetic work done to it in preparation for becoming a static display. Here, the locomotive peeks out of the museum's engine house during its cosmetic restoration in the winter of 1987.
Today, No. 191 can usually be found on display near the Nelson Crossing depot. Here, the locomotive sits under a starry sky in 2021.