ARIZONA RAILWAY MUSEUM

 Plymouth ML-8 Locomotive No. 1


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Military bases often had rail service for the movement of supplies and equipment. This small Plymouth locomotive, built in 1943, served the Army Air Corps Advanced Flying School in Victorville, California, where bomber pilots trained during World War II. Later renamed George Air Force Base, it trained fighter pilots for the Korean War in the 1950s.

The locomotive remained in military service until 1966. It was then sold as surplus to the civilian market and served various railroad construction companies until retirement.

In 1988 it was donated to the museum by Railroad Builders of Mira Loma, California, and for many years served as the museum's primary switching locomotive. In 2005 it was named "George E. Holt" for its long-time caretaker, who died earlier that year.

The Plymouth Locomotive Works built this model ML-8, serial number 4463, in 1943 as part of a group of 24 locomotives for the U.S. War Department, serial numbers 4441 to 4464. It became US Army No. 7595, and was the last one to be delivered on March 26, 1943. It weighs 62,000 pounds and has 33-inch drivers.

In November 1966 after many years of faithful military service, it was sold to private contractor M. Lummis & Company of Richmond, California. It was later owned by Pacific Railroad Contractors of Torrance, California, and finally by Railroad Builders of Mira Loma, California, who donated it to the museum in 1988.

Unlike many of this type that have been refitted with a diesel engine, this locomotive still has its original LeRoi model RX1V, 250 hp, V8 gasoline engine with a displacement of 2008 cubic inches. Power is transmitted to the wheels via a clutch and 4-speed mechanical transmission, with chain drive to the axles.

In 1988, Mammoth Trucking employees Ron & John Schofield delivered the locomotive to the museum's Armstrong Park location, where it was cosmetically and functionally restored by museum volunteers. (Ron Schofield was one of the five founders of the Arizona Railway Museum.)

After many years of switching cars around the museum grounds, its integral air compressor failed in April 2011, causing extensive damage to the engine's front gear casing and radiator. The museum purchased two used stationary LeRoi engines that originally powered cotton gins. These engines serve as a source of repair parts. Repairs were begun to return the locomotive to serviceable condition.


Photo of ARM #1 switching cars at Armstrong Park ca. 2003.

Plymouth being delivered to ARM 4/88.
Plymouth being delivered to ARM 4/88.
Plymouth being delivered to ARM 4/88.
Plymouth being delivered to ARM 4/88.
In service for M. Lummis at Richmond, CA around 11/1966.

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