U.S. Navy 9

== History ==
Handy Dandy Railroad #9 is a BSI class 0-4-0 built in 1942 by the H.K. Porter Locomotive Works in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The locomotive originally worked in the Bethlehem-Farfield Shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland, But was soon drafted into the Navy and used at the Norfolk Naval Base in Norfolk, Virginia. 
Following the War, the locomotive's history gets a little bit murky. However, #9 seems to have most of her time in and around Richmond, specifically Belle Island, for the Old Dominion Iron and Steel Company. However, the engine's ownership during this period remains a mystery. In 1964, The locomotive was purchased by Echo Valley Park Inc. in Greenville, SC for use on the Swamp Rabbit Railroad, as a supplement for Cliffside Railroad 110. Whether the engine operated here or not remains unknown.
Following the closure of Echo Valley Park, the locomotive was sold to the Blacksburg and Cherokee Falls Railroad in Blacksburg, SC, where it had a short operating stint for about a year before being sold to Mr. David Barnhardt in Burnsville, NC in 1972. The engine was stored on the now-defunct Yancey Railroad, presumably for excursion service, But 2 separate floods in 1972 and 1976 respectively washed out the railroad, killing any chance for excursion service.
In April 1979, The locomotive was sold to Brown Loflin, who bought it for use at the Denton FarmPark (Then known as Denton Airport) in Denton, NC to use as an attraction for the Southeast Old Thresher's Reunion. The engine would operate for the first time during the 1980 reunion. In 1982, the locomotive would be given a facelift, with a set of domes, a bell, and most notably, a tender. The locomotive has operated every year during the FarmPark's Southeast Old Thresher's Reunion, Which his hosted around the 4th of July every year. However, the locomotive has been down for an extended overhaul since the 2019 Reunion, in need of a new boiler. As of 2023, funds are currently being raised to return the locomotive to service.
== Trivia ==
* The New River Gospel Bluegrass Band used the Locomotive in their music video for their song "Clinchfield Mountain Rail." With the locomotive masquerading as Clinchfield #99 for the video. The real Clinchfield #99 is preserved at the Casey Jones Museum in Jackson, TN, painted up as Illinois Central 382.
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== Gallery ==
* Images
Category:0-4-0 locomotives
Category:0-4-0 steam locomotives
Category:Built in 1942
Category:Porter locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Locomotives featured in media
Category:American steam locomotives
Category:United States
Category:American locomotives
Category:United States Transportation Corps
Category:Restored locomotives
Category:Preserved steam locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives of the United States
Category:Excursion locomotives