#5

In the 1900s, the US needed coal to fuel the fleet in the Pacific Ocean and it was found in the hills of the Matanuska Valley, the railroad was built between the town of Chickaloon to the ports until it was unnecessary for the Navy as they were switching to oil for fuel. As mines were coming into business, the railroad was still able to transport coal to the communities along its tracks. This locomotive came up to Alaska in 1914 when construction of the Alaska Railroad began. #5 operated between Seward and Eska while the line was still narrow gauge. In 1926, #5 went back to work for Moose Creek up to the mines. Even after a flood in 1942 washed away tracks down at Moose Creek, #5 was still operating up in the mines. Fortunately, men found this beautiful Baldwin abandoned in the mines and came to the conclusion that it needed to come back to Palmer.