This was one of thirteen locomotives rostered by the Texas South-Eastern Railroad between 1900 and 1964. Ten Wheeler (4-6-0) type #13 was built in 1920 at a cost of $32,697.20 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works at its Eddystone, PA, plant. It was ordered as a duplicate of the TSE's #10, also built by Baldwin in 1911 but with the addition of a superheater, slightly larger cylinder bores and a few other modifications designed to increase performance without adding significantly to the weight.
The TSE began burning oil instead of coal in 1915, and #13 was ordered as an oil burner although the TSE changed the order to coal in June 1920 because the price of fuel oil had by then climbed to twice that of coal. However, after delivery in September 1920, it operated as a coal burner for just twelve months, when it was then converted to an oil burner.
The locomotive alternated in service between the TSE and Southern Pine Lumber Company hauling log trains as well as occasional mixed freight and passenger trains between Diboll, Lufkin, Blix and Fastrill, TX. Passenger trains ceased in the 1950s, but #13 continued in service until 1964.
#13 was displayed at various locations in Diboll after retiring and has been cosmetically restored twice, the second time in 2003 when it was
returned to its 1930s appearance a year after being placed on display at the History Center. It is now a popular attraction for local school parties. Compressed air is supplied to the whistle, and visitors can climb up into the cab, sound the whistle and ring the bell.
Unfortunately, when we visited, the museum was closed, so we were limited to getting photos from outside the museum railings.
With Walschaert valve gear and 19" x 26" cylinders, #13 weighs 134,000 lbs, 109,000 lbs on its 56" drivers. The engine wheelbase is
23' 1" and driver wheelbase 12'. With a 25 sq ft grate and 154 sq ft firebox, the one hundred and forty-one 2" tubes were complemented by twenty-one 5 3/8" superheater flues adding 340 sq ft to the total 1,815 sq ft heating surface. Operating at a boiler pressure of 200 psi, it delivered 28,493 lbs tractive effort.
The tender weighs 111,000 lbs light with a capacity of 5,500 gallons of water and 2,500 gallons of oil.
#13 is on display coupled to Southern Pine Lumber Company lumber wagon #1893 and Texas South-Eastern Caboose #6 built in 1948 and donated to the museum in 2002.
There are also a couple of ex-TSE speeders on display.
