John J. Coit
1875–1910Built miniature railways in California with inventive steam locomotives, then became a Panama Railroad engineer and died when his train collided with a cow.
Particulars
John J. Coit, a machinist who became physically handicapped and could no longer work in his original profession, built and operated four miniature railways in California. His oil-fired steam locomotive No. 1903, a 2-6-0 Mogul type measuring 5.80 meters from pilot to tank end, featured innovations including a valve control without eccentrics that was easy to adjust and maintain, automatic couplings, and a bespoke oil burner for which he filed a patent.
From July 1908, Coit worked as a locomotive engineer on the main line of the Panama Railroad during the construction of the Panama Canal, employed by the Atlantic Division and residing at Culebra in the Canal Zone.
On the morning of 21 September 1910, Coit died at age 35 when locomotive No. 500, pulling a work train, derailed on the main line from Gatún to Culebra after colliding with a cow. The locomotive tipped over onto the adjacent track near bridge No. 47, killing Coit instantly and seriously injuring his West Indian fireman. Coit was unmarried; his sister C.J. Stanton of Los Angeles was his next of kin. Three of his miniature locomotives survive today, including Venice Railway No. 2, which operates at the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad in Los Gatos, California.
Compiled from Wikipedia. Automated record.