John J. Coit

John J. Coit (1875 – 21 September 1910) was an American experienced railroad engineer, who built and operated four miniature railways in California.

[1] He built and operated several miniature railways in succession: His oilfired steam locomotive No 1903 with a total length of 5.80 meters (19 ft 0 in) from tip of pilot to end of tank couple and a height of 1,295 millimetres (51 in) from the top of rail to the top of stack was of the 2-6-0 type Mogul.

[3] Coit died in an accident in the morning of 21 September 1910 at the age of 35, when the locomotive No 500, with which he pulled a work train, derailed on the main line of the Panama Canal Railway from Gatún to Culebra after colliding with a cow.

The locomotive derailed approximately 60 m (197 feet) in front of bridge No 47 near Mamei and tipped over onto the adjacent track, which ran towards the south.

Coit died immediately at the scene of the accident and his West Indian fireman was seriously injured.