A H.K. PORTER BRASS LOCOMOTIVE SHIELD SHAPED BUILDERS PLATE

This 7 3/4" X 8 1/4" shield shaped brass builders plate is from the H.K. PORTER COMPANY INC. PITTSBURGH U.S.A and is number 7317. This plate was affixed to a 65 ton diesel electric switcher in AUGUST, 1941 which was one of 6 built for the U.S. Navy. Number 7317 became # 1 and went to the JEFFERSON Proving grounds in MADISON, INDIANA. This locomotive then became # 7187 and served with the U.S. Army transportation corps at OGDEN, UTAH. Following WORLD WAR II in 1947, the locomotive was acquired by the ALASKA RAILROAD and became # 1106. The locomotive served on the ALASKA RAILROAD until 1954 when it was acquired by AMERICAN AGGREGATES of COLUMBUS, OHIO and renumbered 6816. As per the history of the PORTER locomotive company, only 284 internal combustion locomotives were produced and only 8 served on the ALASKA RAILROAD.