Jan. #01: Koppel Car #3398-K 1928 B&W Photo

A partly assembled narrow-gauge "Galloping Goose" gasoline powered rail vehicle is seen here in 1928 at the former Koppel Car Co. facilities located in Koppel, Pa. which were by then a part of the Pressed Steel Car Co.

More information on the Koppel plant will be found in Kahndog's upcoming book on the P&LE in Beaver County, Pa. entitled Engine for Change.

© Steel Industry Heritage Corporation archives

Jan. #02: McKeesport & Belle Vernon stock certificate.

The McKeesport & Belle Vernon Railroad was constructed by people representing the Vanderbilt and P&LE Railroad interests. After the line was completed, it was then sold to the P&LE as its access into the upper Monongahela River Valley.

© Jack Polaritz Collection

Jan. #03: Mohawk photo - NYCRR #3024

While New York Central Railroad's 4-8-2 Mohawk steam locomotives like the 3024 seen here in freight service in Ohio operated over the P&LE, they were used exclusively in passenger train hauling on the Little Giant.

© Si Herring photo

Jan. #04: P&LE K4 photo

The Pittsburgh & Lake Erie operated two classes of K-4 Pacific-type 4-6-2 steam locomotives in both interstate passenger and local commuter service until the diesel locomotives took over all such operations in 1952.

© Jack Polaritz Collection

Jan. #05: P&LE Commuter Train 1501 photo

P&LE passenger GP-7 No. 1501 is pictured in the College, Pa. yard as it runs around a single passenger coach that briefly served as a mid-day commuter run between Pittsburgh and College, Pa. in the mid 1970's.

More information about this operation will be found in Kahndog's upcoming book being authored by Beaver County historian Charles Townsend III and P&LE historian Jack Polaritz entitled Engine for Change.

© Bill Metzger photo

Jan. #06: Spang Chalfont Etna 1911 photo

Seen in this 1911 photo, this little saddle-tank 0-4-0 steam locomotive "Etna" was the first of Spang Chalfont's plants motive-power, and was named for the town in which the company's plant was located.

© Jack Polaritz Collection

Jan. #07: Spang Chalfont No. 5 photo

Little saddle-tank No. 5 was one of a series of steam locomotives that operated at Spang Chalfont's large pipe-making plant located at the foot of the Etna end of 62nd Street Bridge between the community and Pittsburgh.

© Jack Polaritz Collection

Jan. #07: Spang Chalfont No. 5 close-up.

Close-up of this little saddle-tank locomotive and engineer.

Jan. #08: Spang Chalfont No. 8 steam switcher

Spang Chalfont's 0-6-0 steam switcher locomotive No. 8 is seen as it works loads at the company's Etna plant. The tracks in the foreground are those of the Pennsylvania Railroad's Allegheny Valley main line, and the plant is identified in large letter so that it may be identified by people on the other side of the river in Pittsburgh.

© Jack Polaritz Collection

Jan. #08: Spang Chalfont No. 8 steam switcher - close-up

Close-up of this 0-6-0 steam switcher No. 8 with it's engineer in the cab.

Jan. #09: P&LE 8045 Rox - Bulldog 1948 photo

P&LE "Bulldog" 0-8-0 steam switcher locomotive 8045 is seen on the ready line at the railroad's McKees Rocks, Pa. servicing facilities in this 1948 photograph.

© John Counts photo

Jan. #10: P&LE 8045 Cincy 1956 photo

While P&LE's regular steam operations ended in 1953, a number of A-2A class Berkshires and U class 0-8-0 switcher locomotives were leased to the New York Central in 1955. In this picture, P&LE's No. 8045 is seen in action in 1956 at the Central's Sharon, Ohio yards.

More information on P&LE's final steam operations may be found in Kahndog Publication book P&LE Berkshires.

© Jack Polaritz Collection