NHV #10 is a 25-ton end-cab “critter” built by General Electric in April 1950 at the company’s plant in Erie, Pennsylvania. This small 150-horsepower locomotive was shipped to the Duke Power Lee Generating Plant in Pelzer, South Carolina, and was later reassigned to the Allen Generating Plant in Belmont, North Carolina.

After years of service moving coal hoppers and other railcars around those facilities, Duke Power management determined that #10 had earned a well-deserved retirement. The locomotive was moved to a storage track while its future was decided.

That future eventually led to life as a museum piece. The locomotive was acquired—either by purchase or donation—by the Piedmont Carolinas Railroad Museum in Belmont, North Carolina, where it was stored with the museum’s modest collection of equipment. #10 remained there for several years in non-operating condition until the museum was forced to vacate its storage track.

NCRM member Gray Lackey learned of the situation and discovered that the PCRM was willing to sell the critter at a reasonable price. After receiving permission to bring the locomotive to Bonsal, the sale was completed and plans were made to move it.

In November 2004, a crew of NCRM members experienced in moving railroad equipment traveled to Belmont to retrieve #10 and transport it to Bonsal.

Star Towing of Gastonia, South Carolina, was contracted to haul the locomotive approximately 150 miles from Belmont to Bonsal. They arrived with the proper equipment, and the crew quickly set to work loading the locomotive.

The typical method for moving locomotives by truck involves positioning a low-boy trailer over a grade crossing or other suitable location on the track. A temporary ramp of rails is then built from the track to rails secured on the trailer bed, allowing the locomotive to be rolled onto the trailer. As shown in the photos, this method was used to load #10, with a cable attached and the locomotive winched onto the trailer. Once it arrived in Bonsal, the process was reversed, with our locomotive #67 controlling the cable during unloading.

Today, #10 can be seen on the mainline track in Bonsal behind the former USO Kitchen Car—now home to our museum store—near the RDC and steam locomotive #17. The locomotive is on long-term lease from Mr. Lackey to the North Carolina Railway Museum for display and eventual restoration.

Plans call for returning #10 to operating condition as soon as time and funding allow. Some preliminary work has already been completed to inspect the locomotive’s internal components and determine the scope of the project. We hope to begin more extensive work in the not-too-distant future.

Would you like to see #10 running again? With the right combination of time, skill, dedication, and financial support, that goal can become a reality. If you would like to help in any way, we would love to hear from you. You could be part of bringing #10 back to life.

The same can be said for all of the equipment and facilities at Bonsal. If you would like to contribute your time, skills or financial support, we would love to hear from you. The North Carolina Railway Museum thrives because of the dedication and commitment of people like you.