Dantzler Lumber & Export Co. #1147 - Zephyrhills, FL - Locomotives on Waymarking.com

In 1907, the Florida Phosphate Mining Company ordered three steam locomotives from the Vulcan Iron Works in Wilkes-Barre, PA for their mining operation in Greenbay. Greenbay was a company town in Polk County that no longer exists. The Vulcan Iron Works specialized in small, light duty 0-4-0 and 0-6-0 type steam locomotives. This one was originally numbered #2 but was the last one delivered (in September of 1908).

The locomotive was sold to the Dantzler Lumber & Export Company in 1928 and spent the next twenty-five or so years shuttling lumber around the Tampa docks for their extensive export operations. Originally configured for burning coal, old #2 was converted for wood since Dantzler had plenty of scrap lumber to use as fuel and was renumbered 1147. Vulcan supplied the spark arrestor and wood grate for the conversion. During the war, when everything was in short supply, this engine even burned coconut shells obtained from a local candy manufacturer.

After Dantzler moved their operation from Tampa to Jacksonville in the early 1950s, the old Vulcan locomotive continued to operate around the Tampa docks moving scrap iron instead of lumber until the late 1950s. Because of its age and relatively good condition, it was decided to preserve this relic of the past rather than scrap it. For years it sat in Tampa’s Lowry Park where it was even painted red, white and blue for the nation’s bicentennial.

When the now eighty-year-old locomotive was blocking the expansion of the Lowry Park Zoo in 1988, it was moved yet again eventually winding up in Zephyrhills, FL on the grounds of Dealer’s Auction Xchange off U.S. Route 301 just south of town. It’s been painted yellow (and rust) and has fallen off its rails a little bit but still greets visitors with the words “Zephyrhills Express” on its saddle tank.

Locomotive Type: (required): Steam Do you need to pay an entrance fee to view this locomotive? (required): No How accessible is this locomotive display? (Required): Only touching is allowed. If "other" what is the engine type? (optional): Not listed If a fee is required what is the approximate cost for admittance? (optional): Not listed

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Date Logged Log   04/30/2024 hart612 visited it