Some say that the soul of a steam engine resides in its bell. If that is true even though OR&W Engine #11 has been gone since March of 1929, the soul of Engine #11 remains alive and well - solidly attached to a fieldstone in the yard of the Ball-Caldwell House on the east side of downtown Caldwell, Ohio (see photo #1). The cast metal plaque mounted below the bell reads: “This bell was on Engine #11 of the BZ&C narrow gauge railroad system, a vital part of the early development of Noble County. Donated by Harry and Mary Weaver of Summerfield, Ohio and the Weaver heirs for display purposes. Shown below is the route of the BZ&C Railroad started on November 27, 1877 and ending May 30, 1931. Zanesville – Caldwell – Summerfield – Woodsfield – Bellaire”.

Bell #11 had a long journey before coming to rest here. The engine with bell was built in September of 1887 by the Pittsburgh Locomotive and Car Works as #7 (BN 949) for the Baltimore and Lehigh Railroad in Maryland. The engine was a fast smooth running 4-4-0 passenger locomotive with 15” by 20” cylinders and 49” drivers. The BZ&C bought #7 from the B&L when the B&L converted to standard gauge re-numbering it BZ&C #11 in September 1900 to address the railroad’s growing passenger service needs. First as BZ&C #11, then OR&W #11 (see photo #2), and finally as Pennsylvania #9667, the engine and bell served the narrow gauge railroad for twenty-eight plus years. Being a lead passenger locomotive, the engine was well maintained and the bell polished. The bell even survived the wreck of Engine #11 in September 1924, which so altered #11’s appearance.

The engine was sold to E.P.Gaynor in October 1928 to assist in scraping the middle and west end of the narrow gauge from Woodsfield to Zanesville. Alas, Engine #11, worn out, was cut up for scrap at Caldwell by Gaynor in March 1929.  

The bell was saved by townsfolk, however, and was donated to Harry Weaver’s mother. Her husband and Harry’s father, was a conductor on BZ&C passenger train pulled by Engine #11. He was killed when he fell between the cars of a moving train. Harry was only four years old at the time of his father’s death and life became tough - the accident leaving the family without a breadwinner. The bell moved with the Weaver family from Sarahsville to Summerfield where it remained tucked away for some fifty odd years in the Weaver Family basement.  

After 1983 it came into the possession of Bob and Mary Ann Ball, owners of the Ball-Caldwell House and heirs to the bell (Mary Ann Ball is one of many children of Harry and Mary Weaver). Rather than remain hidden as a family treasure Bob and Mary Ann decided to display the bell and provide the descriptive plaque as part of their homestead listed in the National Register of Historic Places for all to see. The Ball-Caldwell House and Engine #11 bell are available for public viewing by appointment. Check for hours of operation at or call the Noble County Visitors and Tourism office at 1-740-732-2191.

 
Locomotive #11 eastbound at Summerfield Photo: Ed Bond collection