The above photograph of Northern Pacific locomotive 74 was provided
by Fred Burglund of Missoula, Montana, who identified four of the five
gentlemen present as Mickey McBann, engineer, Mike Riley, fireman,
Mike Nicholson, brakeman, and Guy Farrell, brakeman.
The engine for Northern Pacific 74 was built in 1888 by the Baldwin
Locomotive Works of Philadelphia. It was Baldwins’s 9,515th locomotive.
The wheel arrangement was 2-8-0 and all engines of this class were
commonly known as Baldwin hogs. The hogs were probably
one of the most efficient types of engines ever constructed. Some of
these N.P. engines were in service for 60 years, exceeding the lifetime
of any other engines of this time Originally, the 74 was numbered 475,
and was used on the Butte mountain route for many years. Later it worked
on the Philipsburg branch, and more extensively on the Wallace branch.
In 1896, it was renumbered to 74. Unlike most of the hogs, the 74 was sold.
It was purchased by the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railroad (S.P. & S.)
in 1937, and worked as their No. 305 for about 20 years.
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