Kentucky & Tennessee Railway 10

Unveiling the History of the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway 10

This steam locomotive was constructed by the renowned Baldwin Locomotive Works in May 1920, ordered new by the Kentucky & Tennessee Railway, a shortline developed to facilitate the operations of the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company located in Stearns, Kentucky.

The Kentucky & Tennessee Railway, with over 25 miles of track began purchasing larger locomotives in the late 1900s, ordering their first 2-8-2 type locomotive, from Baldwin, in 1908, which would become their largest engine, and be numbered 7. The 7, like earlier K&T locomotives, was dressed in Baldwin’s standard olive and aluminum paint, fully lined out as locomotives often were in the 1900s. By 1920, traffic had outpaced even the 7, and K&T went to Baldwin for another locomotive, becoming their 10 upon delivery. Like the 7, K&T 10 is also a 2-8-2 type, referred to as a Mikado. The 10 however was dressed in yellow-gold and olive green, rather than the more common aluminum trim of the K&T’s other engines. The 10 proved popular, and was eventually joined by another Mikado, this time built by the American Locomotive Company, or “ALCo”, just 2 years later, which became K&T’s 11. Interestingly, despite being built by ALCo, the K&T requested it be painted in Baldwin’s olive livery, creating a unique appearance which would last some years until solid black paint came to the K&T in the late 1930s or early 1940s. The 10 would continue to serve K&T for over four decades, until retirement finally came in 1964 after acquisition of a trio of ALCo diesel switchers acquired second-hand from the Denver & Rio Grande Western, and a year later, in 1965, it became a proud acquisition of TVRM.

Once relocated to Chattanooga, the locomotive was dressed in the style of the similar looking Southern Railway 6900 series I/Ms-3 class locomotives, becoming Southern Railway 6910. In October 1965, the 6910 took an exciting autumn excursion from Chattanooga to Cleveland, Tennessee.

Despite the bright paint and new identity, this could not remedy the four decades of industrial service on the K&T, and the locomotive’s deteriorating condition curtailed its run. The second round trip it made that day turned out to be its last, and the following day (a Sunday) the 6910 just could not make the trip. Its final operation under steam occurred around 1973 when the locomotive made a trip over the museum’s rail line from East Chattanooga to Tunnel Boulevard and return. The K&T 10 is currently in storage and out of service. TVRM, however, intends to bring this engine back to life with a cosmetic restoration. Soon, it will become a more visible gem in the Grand Junction Display Yard collection.