The Soo Line B-4 class were

0-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles and no trailing wheels. This was the most common wheel arrangemen ...

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constructed for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (Soo Line) by the

American Locomotive Company The American Locomotive Company (often shortened to ALCO, ALCo or Alco) was an American manufacturer of locomotives, diesel generators, steel, and tanks that operated from 1901 to 1969. The company was formed by the merger of seven smaller locomo ...

. Six (#344–349) were built at their Schenectady plant in 1915, with a further five (#350–354) being constructed by their Brooks plant in

Dunkirk, New York Dunkirk is a Administrative divisions of New York#City, city in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. It was settled around 1805 and incorporated in 1880. The population was 12,743 as of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Dunkirk i ...

, in 1920. They were the last, and largest design of purpose-built switch engines that the Soo Line owned, any heavier switching duties were performed by down-graded

2-8-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels. ...

freight engines. All were still on the active roster in May 1953, but all had been retired by the end December 1954 when the railroad completed its dieselization. Two are preserved - #346 from the first batch, which is displayed at the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum at

Tracy, Minnesota Tracy is a city in Lyon County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,163 at the 2010 census. U.S. Route 14 serves as a main arterial route in the community. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a tota ...

, as Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern #9, and #353 from the second batch, which is operational and gives free rides annually at the

Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion WMSTR, or the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion, is an annual, non-profit "steam meet" held in the small town of Rollag, Minnesota. It takes place over the weekend of the US Labor Day holiday (first Monday in September), and draws around ...

Rollag, Minnesota Rollag is an unincorporated community in Parke Township Clay County, Minnesota, United States. The community is located northeast of Barnesville and south of Hawley on Minnesota State Highway 32. The living museum WMSTR WMSTR, or the Western ...

References

* B-04 0-6-0 locomotives ALCO locomotives Railway locomotives introduced in 1915 Steam locomotives of the United States Standard gauge locomotives of the United States {{loco-stub