Lead in Lawrence County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Compressed Air Locomotive #9

Homestake Mining District

— Lead, South Dakota —

Compressed Air Locomotive #9 Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018

1. Compressed Air Locomotive #9 Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Homestake Mining Company Locomotive Number 9 was purchased in 1907 from the H.K. Porter Company of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. The H.K. Porter number for this locomotive was 3847.

This locomotive is powered by compressed air. The capacity of the large air tank is approximately 135 cubic feet of air at 1000 psi (pounds per square inch). It was filled from a large stationary air compressor on the Tramway Level of the mine. The air is released via the throttle to the pistons which drive the wheels, similar to a steam engine.

This locomotive was used to transport ore from the shafts across the Tramway Level and dumped into the top of the mills where crushing, milling and refining took place.

Locomotive 9 weighs approximately 27,000 pounds operated on 22 inch gauge track.

Erected by Black Hills Mining Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.

Location. 44° 21.108′ N, 103° 46.048′

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W. Marker is in Lead, South Dakota, in Lawrence County. Marker is on West Main Street (CanAm Highway) (U.S. 85) east of Stone Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker and subject locomotive are located in the Black Hills Mining Museum parking lot, on the south side of West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 323 West Main Street, Lead SD 57754, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Battery Locomotive (a few steps from this marker); Man Car / Ambulance (a few steps from this marker); Man Car (a few steps from this marker); Ore Cars (a few steps from this marker); Spargo Hoist & Sinking Bucket (a few steps from this marker); Overshot Mucker (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); The Homestake Opera House & Recreation Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lead.

More about this marker. Marker is a metal plaque mounted directly on the subject locomotive.

Compressed Air Locomotive #9 Marker (<i>tall view; marker mounted on side of locomotive</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018

2. Compressed Air Locomotive #9 Marker (tall view; marker mounted on side of locomotive)

Compressed Air Locomotive #9 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018

3. Compressed Air Locomotive #9

Compressed Air Locomotive #9 (<i>back side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018

4. Compressed Air Locomotive #9 (back side)

Compressed Air Locomotive Gauges & Controls image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018

5. Compressed Air Locomotive Gauges & Controls

Compressed Air Locomotive Tank, Pipes and Valves image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 12, 2018

6. Compressed Air Locomotive Tank, Pipes and Valves

Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 275 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 13, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 14, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.