Lehigh Valley Alco S1 117

[Simon Reed]

A long shot but does anyone know, or know where I can find the works number of this long scrapped Alco.

I ask in conjunction with www.ukalcogroup.co.uk , of which you'll hear more soon. The original livery for the British Alco's was very similar to Lehigh Valley and the first one came out of Schenectady about the same time as 117.

If anyone can satisfy my curiosity and suspicions I'd be grateful.

[West Coast S]

Long scrapped? Perhaps. According to records, 117 was sold in 1969 to Goldkist Corp. and last reported as Vulcan Materials 5789 located in Gesimar La. in 1978. Sorry I can't assist with the builders number, but on the bright side you have some new information to work with.

Dave

[Simon Reed]

Thanks. I have managed to find both the works number and build history for #117 and ruled it out of my theory.

I had a suspicion that it and the first one delivered to the UK were swapped before leaving Schenectady but I'm wrong on that.

I still think it's likely that the first UK example, works no 77120, was originally a Lehigh Valley order. The fact that it was delivered in Lehigh Valley livery, minus lettering, sort of gives the game away...

[scottychaos]

Thanks. I have managed to find both the works number and build history for #117 and ruled it out of my theory.

I had a suspicion that it and the first one delivered to the UK were swapped before leaving Schenectady but I'm wrong on that.

I still think it's likely that the first UK example, works no 77120, was originally a Lehigh Valley order. The fact that it was delivered in Lehigh Valley livery, minus lettering, sort of gives the game away...

 

I know im responding to a very old thread..but I just came across it!

The fact that a UK Alco had a similar scheme to the "pre war" LV scheme does not necessarily mean that it was supposed to be a LV order...because the LV scheme was a "standard catalog" paintscheme that was used by other railroads! Rather than the UK engine being a "diverted" LV engine, its far more likely that someone in the UK just liked that paintscheme and ordered it! 

no other connection to the LV..except that they had a similar paintscheme.

Scot