Project 44

Steam locomotive #44 was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pa. in January 1927. It was built for the Hampton & Branchville Railroad, at the time, a logging railroad at Hampton (Miley), SC. The locomotive has never been out of the state of South Carolina since being purchased by the Hampton and Branchville Railroad. Retired 1959, it was sold to the Charleston SC Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in June, 1969. It was used by the Charleston chapter in the 1970 NRHS national convention held in Charleston along with Southern Railway steam locomotives #4501, #630, #722 and #1 2-4-2 "One Spot" privately owned by Cole and Marion Walters. After the convention, it was said to be used in and around the Southern Railway freight yard in Charleston. Ownership was transferred over to the South Carolina Railroad Museum on June 10, 1991.

A committee known as "Project 44" was created January 1, 2009 to carry out the planning, assessment, fund raising, restoration, crew training and operation of locomotive #44. The goal is to have the locomotive restored to operating condition for use on the South Carolina Railroad Museum’s operating railroad. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible.The Museum is a 501(c)(3) organization. Please make all donations payable to The South Carolina Railroad Museum, Inc. and mail to P.O. 7246, Columbia, SC 29202-7246 and in the memo line please note Project 44.

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Copies of this print can be acquired for a donation of $30 or more towards the restoration fund of ex-Hampton & Branchville steam locomotive #44. The picture was painted by railroad artist Frank Crowe of Calhoun, GA. All prints are signed and numbered. It depicts locomotive #44 pulling freight across the Low Country swamp lands of South Carolina on the Hampton & Branchville Railroad. The size of the print is 12" x 18". The actual picture size is 10" x 14". Prints can be acquired at the South Carolina Railroad Museum's Gift Shop or contact the Fairfield Chamber of Commerace at 803-635-4242 (9am-5pm Weekdays) or via email at info@scrm.org.