First PRSL diesel

[kevikens]

Yesterday while driving on Jackson road in Atco, NJ I spotted in a salvage yard an 18 ton Plymouth switcher. The first diesel the PRSL owned was just such a locmotive. It was designated number 1 and switched passenger cars in Wildwood, I believe from 1934 t0 1943 and then sold to a Camden iron foundry. Is this Atco engine the same locmotive as the number one ? If so, this is a valuable historic locomotive and needs to be rescued by some New Jersey short line before it is scrapped or rusts into oblivion. The original number 1 is pictured in the Gladulich book on Atlantic City trains, p. 171 and in the Kramer book on the PRSL, p. 45.

[JJMDiMunno]

I don't believe it's the same unit, I believe that unit was scrapped years ago after it's sale to Curriden Oil. However, let me confirm before I post anything solid here...

Also, I'd normally suggest that this be moved to my PRSL forum, but the moderator is in New Jersey and does not have a computer available, so I don't think that'll happen...if nothing's posted here in the near future concerning this, I'll post an inquiry on my PRSL forum.

Mike DiMunno

[kevikens]

I forgot to mention that when I looked at the front of the locomotive that I could see, faintly, the outline of a circle on the front grill that was in the same location as the locomotive, a number one on a spot shaped medallion pictured in the mentioned books.

[Jerseyman]

Kevikens and JJ:

I believe the locomotive sitting in the junkyard on Jackson Road is the same one that John Mahalchik had in his junkyard up on Route 206 many, many years ago. If this information is correct, then this Plymouth is actually government surplus that Mahalchik purchased when his business functioned profitably back in the 1950s before he became the target of bad people who wanted to steal his land.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

[Otto Vondrak]

[moved to the PRSL forum - omv]

[kevikens]

I know about the Mihalchuk scrap yard on Route 206 and vividly remember the steam switcher that was out front. That locomotive was cosmetically restored and is now on a lawn on route 30 in Absecon. Are you thinking of that one or is the Plymouth a totally different engine that he had soewhere else in his scapyard ?

[Jerseyman]

I know about the Mihalchuk scrap yard on Route 206 and vividly remember the steam switcher that was out front. That locomotive was cosmetically restored and is now on a lawn on route 30 in Absecon. Are you thinking of that one or is the Plymouth a totally different engine that he had soewhere else in his scapyard ?

John Mahalchik had two locomotives in his scrap yard. One was the "White Ghost" steam locomotive you recall, which he had painted white, and the other was a Plymouth switcher. The White Ghost originally went to Absecon to sit alongside a hobby shop down there. I presume the store has since closed. I never knew what had happened to the Plymouth until I drove past the scrap yard on Jackson Road some years ago and saw the thing sitting there. I can remember him telling stories on the radio one night to Irv Homer and he told the story of moving one of the locomotives--and I think it was the steam one--across the Benjamin Franklin Bridge without a permit or escort on a lowboy flatbed truck. I believe he pulled the engine out of the Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard. It was a really great and funny story of how the toll taker stopped him and told him that he couldn't move something of that size and weight across the bridge. He replied, "Well, I just did, so what are you going to do about it?" In the end I think they fined a $100 and sent him on his way.

Great memories!!

Best regards,
Jerseyman

[David]

Kevikens and JJ:

I believe the locomotive sitting in the junkyard on Jackson Road is the same one that John Mahalchik had in his junkyard up on Route 206 many, many years ago. If this information is correct, then this Plymouth is actually government surplus that Mahalchik purchased when his business functioned profitably back in the 1950s before he became the target of bad people who wanted to steal his land.

Best regards,
Jerseyman

This is true--The junkyard (Wade's Salvage) is about a mile from where I was staying up to a week ago in Atco. The same junkyard was used in filming of the movie " Eddie and the Cruisers" in the early 80's. I have been all over this relic and it could be only used for parts now.

[Jerseyman]

This is true--The junkyard (Wade's Salvage) is about a mile from where I was staying up to a week ago in Atco. The same junkyard was used in filming of the movie " Eddie and the Cruisers" in the early 80's. I have been all over this relic and it could be only used for parts now.

David:

Thank you for confirming this information and restoring my faith in what I remembered. It is a shame that Mahalchik and Wade did not take better care of the old switcher, but, then again, that's why we call them scrapyards!

Best regards,
Jerseyman

[myowngod]

The White Ghost originally went to Absecon to sit alongside a hobby shop down there. I presume the store has since closed.

The Loco that was infront of the hobby shop move about 1/2 mile east. It is now infront of Absecon(Atlantic City) Harley Davidson dealer. She's looking pretty good with the orange and black HD logo on it.