Dickson Switching Locomotive 1886

Dickson Manufacturing Company Six Wheel Switching Locomotive Narrow Gauge, Class D with Tender. 1886 The Six Wheel Switching Locomotive with tender, is designed for switching service in railroad yards and stations. It can also be used for short runs on local Trains. The weight of the engine is equally distributed among the six wheels, thus utilizing all the weight for adhesion and there is an equalizing lever between the middle and back driving wheels on each side. There is also a transverse equalizing lever connecting the front ends of the forward springs. The tender has either a straight or sloping top, and is provided with six wheels or two four wheeled trucks. The sloping top permits a clearer view of the track near the engine. Dickson Manufacturing Company was a manufacturer of boilers and steam engines used in various industries but most known in railway steam locomotives. It was in founded in Scranton, Pennsylvania by Thomas Dickson in 1856. The company maintained its main offices and shops on Penn Avenue in Scranton, a locomotive shop at the "Cliff Works" in Scranton, a shop in Wilkes-Barre, and an office in New York City. In 1901 the company was merged with seven other manufacturing firms to form the American Locomotive Company. (ALCO). Alco ceased locomotive production at the former Dickson works in 1909. The former shops still stand, and are featured in the opening sequence of the television show "The Office," which is set in Scranton,Pennsylvania.