H.K.
Porter locomotives
Henry Kirke Porter began building small locomotives for
industrial and short lines in 1867 in a partnership with John Smith,
and later Arthur Bell before founding his self-named company. Although
the firm would build engines as large as 2-8-2s and 4-6-0s, it would be
by far best known for its light locomotives, built in a dizzying number
of gauges for shortlines, industries, and mining operations the world
over.
(from an 1899 magazine, in the
public domain)
Porter
Locomotives
(from an 1889 book, in the
public domain)
0-6-0
0-6-0T logging locomotive
Porter was still in the locomotive business well into the 20th Century,
and turned out this 0-4-0T for the Bullard Machinery Company in 1937.
Two years later, Porter was bankrupt, and although production of
locomotives continued until 1950, the company has since been an
industrial machinery builder. Bullard #2, seen here at Steamtown in
Scranton, is one of the smallest
standard gauge locomotives ever built.
