Information needed. US Army 2-8-0 #6997

[oldline1]

Does anyone have information on this engine? It was a light 2-8-0 used at Ft. Eustis, VA for training in the 1950's and maybe 1960's. Obviously a Lima engine. Small drivers, USRA looking tender and an outside bearing lead truck.

This is NOT an S-160 type even though it's an Army engine.

Very nice looking machine! I'd post the one photo I have but have never figured out how to do that.

Roger Huber

Deer Creek Locomotive Works

 

 

[DSchmitt]

 

6997 was built by Lima in February, 1942, #7878. It was renumbered 620 in 1954 and scrapped in Newport News, VA, in 1966.

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/usa6997.jpg

http://donsdepot.donrossgroup.net/usa620.jpg

 

 

[NorthWest]

It's a 'Pershing' 2-8-0, of which a bunch were ordered during WWI for service in Europe. Several remained in the US, including two that survive, 101 at the National Railway Museum in Green Bay, WI (which went to Korea for a while) and 300 at the Texas State Railroad, where it was operational at least sometime recently.

Weird to see one with an outboard bearing front truck.

[oldline1]

NorthWest

It's a 'Pershing' 2-8-0, of which a bunch were ordered during WWI for service in Europe.

NOPE..........it's definitely NOT a Pershing engine. The 6997 is a WWII engine and is smaller, smaller drivers, outside bearing lead wheels and many other differences.

The Texas State RR has a Pershing engine running as their #300(?) in a gaudy red dress.  Reminds me more of a Harriman 2-8-0 than the 6997.

I believe the Alaska RR had a sister to the 6997 running up there.

Roger Huber

Deer Creek Locomotive Works

[oldline1]

DSchmitt

6997 was built by Lima in February, 1942, #7878. It was renumbered 620 in 1954 and scrapped in Newport News, VA, in 1966.

Thanks for the info and links. Very nifty little engine. It also answered one other question I had as to when the USATC changed the engine numbers from the original 4 digits to the latter 3 digit ones.

Roger Huber

Deer Creek Locomotive Works

[Penny Trains]

Fair amount of info and pics of survivors here: http://www.rgusrail.com/roster.html  Slide the bar over to the right till you get to "USA" and you'll see links to the pages on their site about USA, USAF and USN equipment in museums or otherwise on display.

[MidlandMike]

oldline1

...

I believe the Alaska RR had a sister to the 6997 running up there.

...

 

It's still under restoration:

http://557.alaskarails.org/

 

[oldline1]

MidlandMike

MidlandMike wrote the following post 6 days ago: oldline1 ... I believe the Alaska RR had a sister to the 6997 running up there. ...   It's still under restoration: http://557.alaskarails.org/  

Nope! The engine you referenced is an S-160. The engine I asked about is an entirey different class of 2-8-0. Not and S-160 WWII Era engine or the Pershing WWI Era engine. 

The ARR #557 is an S-160 like the ARR #556 in the Anchorage park.

The ARR #501-505 were the same engines as the #6997 I was asking about.

oldline1

[rockhammer]

6997 was built as USA #11.  It and sister #10 were activated on the Claiborne and Polk Military RR at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana in February, 1942.  They were not popular with the crews but were generally used as switchers, #10 being used at Camp Claiborne, and #11 at Camp Polk.    Both locomotives were last used in train service on the railroad on August 10, 1945.  #10 had been at Camp Polk while #11 had some repairs at the Camp Claiborne shop. Both locomotives traded places that day, #10 running east from Camp Polk, and #11 running west from Camp Claiborne.

[Thomas243]

Roger, I have lots of information about the 8 locomotives of this Class S159 of the US Army. The Alaska Rails website can help. The military railway blog will help also and there is a link to the book by R Tourret, see page 25.

http://militaryrailwayservice.blogspot.com.au/search/label/locomotives

Also try :

 http://lrs.railstuff.net:80/h-cpmr.htm

I am compiling an entry with full details and photos for these locomotives for Steamlocomotive.com that will be completed shortly.

[Thomas243]

I have seen photos of the #11 showing that it did not have outside bearings on the engine truck, same for when it was US Army #602 at Fort Eustis. Can you please indicate whether the #10 was so configured?

Only the #10 & 11 were oil burners, the other six coal. Do you have ony photos or other information please?