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Official Website for Mack #4!

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Welcome to the official "MACK #4" Box Cab Locomotive Restoration website.

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A family devotes their expertise to save an 84 year old locomotive.

On March 16, 2008 Jimmy, Ann, & JC McHugh had an opportunity to save a very unique locomotive that had been rusting away since the mid 1970‘s. The old box cab on March 01, 1924 was originally built by GE as trolley freight motor #4 for the Southwest Missouri Railroad Company at a cost of $15,450.00. Then in 1939 Mack Truck, Inc. of Allentown, PA purchased #4 and identical locomotive #3, rebuilding both into experimental gas electric locomotives. The retrofitted locomotives were offered for sale as new products, but never were sold causing Mack to exit out of the locomotive business. The two units were eventually placed into service as the plant switching locomotives until the closure of the entire Mack railcar department in 1960.

The journey of Mack #4 continues throughout Pennsylvania.

The #4 Mack locomotive has had an interesting journey since that time, and in 1962 it was acquired by and moved to the Rockhill Trolley Museum. Then during the last two months of 1968 it was moved to Mount Union, PA where #4 preformed the last offical EBT switching duties at the dual gauge rail yard of the East Broad Top railroad. In March of 1970, RTM loaned #4 to Jimmy McHugh, Sr.  to assist a eastern PA short line railroad. Then #4 in January 1971 was moved to Penndel, PA were it was placed into storage with  three other peices of RTM equipment. The Wanamaker Kempton & Southern RR who already owned Mack #3 received ownership of  #4 in March 1986 and  moved it to Kempton, PA.

 

#4 is the last locomotive to leave the production line at MACK Truck, Inc. in 1939 and is the only Mack box cab in existance.

1924 - 1939

1939 - 1962

An uncertain fate, the former owner considers scrapping.

During 2007 it had been rumored that if new guardians could not be found for either Mack locomotive that they both would see the flames of a cutting torch and become scrap iron. The two Mack locomotives were previously offered to several railway & trolley museums, railroad tourist lines, private collectors, and even the Mack Truck museum. These prospective clients declined because of the amount of investment required, considering the initial purchase price, transportation expenses, and restoration cost. One outrageous railfan desired to convert the two Mack carbody’s into storage sheds, however this odd idea was not considered. The former owner hoped a party could be found that was interested in preserving at least one locomotive, who also had the capabilities to follow though and complete the project.

The McHugh's fondness for #4, saved it from being destroyed.

A relationship had developed between the former owner of the two Mack locomotives and McHugh Railroad Maintenance Equipment, Inc. resulting in a favorable outcome for the old #4 box cab Mack locomotive. Although a few disrespectful people in the past had made comments that neither of the Mack locomotives were worth saving. These remarks did not discourage the McHugh's, who were adamant that Mack #4 would not be scrapped. The McHugh family nostalgia for old #4 and that it was also a part of Pennsylvania's industrial railroading heritage is why they wanted to see it restored.  In early June 1970 on one of the last days Mack #4 was in service, Jimmy McHugh, Sr. placed his son on the engineers seat and it was the first locomotive JC McHugh operated.

 This is how our Mack is displayed at most shows.

An overwelming positive responce to the Mack #4 project.

We have met many interesting people at the locations where Mack #4 has been transported to for veiwing since it has been repaired. The positive responce from these people to our family for acquiring #4 and then restoring it has been overwelming. We have put a lot of pride into the project, and these nice comments only have enforced  us that our decision to save #4 was a worthy cause. Also we have  been asked if a full restoration of the locomotive to have it back into operation is planned. The Rockhill Trolley Museum has invited us to bring Mack #4 back when it can be operated, what encouragement an inaugural run at RTM.

The locations were restored Mack locomotive #4 will be displayed.

Mack #4 regular display location is at the McHugh Locomotive & Crane facility in Fairless Hills, PA on a short section of track. If you would like to veiw #4 here, please contact us by email first and we will then make the proper arrangements for you.

During certain special occasions the #4 will be transported on our railway equipment tractor trailer to a "Historical Equipment Show"  or a " old Railway event" to be temporally displayed so the general public and other railway enthusiast can enjoy seeing this one of a kind GE-MACK box cab locomotive.

Check our website here for when and where Mack #4 will visit next; No other off site visits are planned for 2008.

#4 is seen here at her first visit to the EBT in 40 years. Talk about a reunion!

Mack #4 was displayed at the East Broad Top railroad in Rockhill Furnace, PA on October 10th, 11th, & 12th, 2008 for the 40th anniversary of when it assisted the rail line. In 1968 Mack #4 was the last locomotive to pull a narrow 3' gauge and standard 4' 8-1/2" gauge trains over the dual gauge rails of the EBT Mount Union yard.

At the Antique Equipment Show in Brownsville, PA, one could say this is a Macktastic reunion!

Mack #4 was displayed at the National Pike Historical Equipment Show in Brownsville, PA on August 9th & 10th, 2008 to celebrate  the cosmedic restoration of #4. The old box cab locomotive had been ravaged after 69 years of outside storage, and it had not seen any maintenance since 1971. This was also the first time that #4 had been fully repainted and lettered, since 1939 when it was last preformed by the Mack company.

The following websites have a link to our site;                                  Discover Live Steam, Jeff Z., S.Berliner III, Railserve, and              McHugh Locomotive & Crane

The photographs on this website have been given to the McHugh family by; Louis Behuler collection RTM, Dave Biles, Joel Salomon, Adam Christman, Nevin Byers, Steve Urban, Rob Piligan, Mike & Tom Hartman, Jeff Z., Lee Rainey, and the McHugh's.

If you are in the market for a locomotive or a locomotive crane, you may contact us at the following;

telephone 215-949-0430 or

email jcmchugh@verizon.net

Visit our company website @  www.mchughlocomotiveandcrane.com

 This was once an SW-8, but with the skills at the McHugh shop, she is now a like-new SW-900.

Website created by Adam Christman & J.C. McHugh. Last update - Nov. 9th, 2008.