U. S. Army 1149?

[TrainFreak409]

I am looking for information on the U.S. Army turbine switcher, #1149. I do have some information on it. It was built by Davenport in September of 1954. It used two Boeing 175 horsepower 502E turbines. It was used at Fort Eustis, Virginia unit its reduction gear failed in '57. It was then sold to Railroad Construction Co, in '59, then sold again to Mecklenburg Equipment Co in '64. I do have a picture of it, as it was on 11/11/72, still up for sale. It was of a 1-B-1 siderod configuration, and supplied 10,000 pounds of starting traction effort. I have all this information in an Extra 2200 South, the July August September 1975 issue. Could anyone spare some more info?

~[8]~ TrainFreak490 ~[8]~

[Anonymous]

I an trying to represent the 1940's in my layout. The time when the troops were being loaded on to trains to get on the troop ships to go to england. I know walthers are making a three-car set w/ 2 sleeper cars and 1 kitchen cars but they are quite pricey. What can I use with the walthers set and what order did they go in from the tender back? Also, what type of engines are they using during this time. I have in my collection, 2 Pacific K-4s 1 ATSF 2-10-4 Texas type, a 4-8-4 J class, and a little 0-8-0 switcher. I am in the process of aquiring more engines and rolling stock but I need to know what kinds were being built during this time period to stay authentic.

[Anonymous]

Hello Pnightshade, I was a child of about 3 years when the war began and 7 years old when it ended. l do remember so called "troop trains" that resembled track crew cars of an early vintage, outside braced metal cars. They were little morte than glorified box cars with windows and painted in the typical olive drab livery of the U.S. Army. Now, thousands of American soldiers were trasported by any means available during the early stages of W.W. II. Any and all standard (heavy weight) or smooth side streamlined day coaches were employed for moving the G.I.s coast to coast or just a few hundred miles. There was nothing to set them apart from any other ordinary day coaches on the various roads. Bear in mind that paint pigments were at a premium during the war years. "Lucky Strike green (cigarette package) has gone to war." Thus, Pullman Green was the color found on the heavey weights while the smooth sides bore the company's ususal colors. Blue interior lights were used after dark and the shades were pulled closed. Many soldiers on leave used trains for transport, so there were always many uniformed soldiers on all passenger runs. Your locomotive roster will work just fine for that era. Anything up to the EMD E-6, E-7's and Alco Pa's would be more rare than steam but present at that time. What I recall as most impressive were the endless runs of military ordinance (tanks, A.A., jeeps, etc.) lashed down on flat cars. Pushers, pullers and mid train helpers were often seen on long consists. As far as train order, I don't remember there having been any set rule other than "mess cars" seemed to be scattered rather than coupled together. Nearly every train would be bound for the same destination, so there was little need for shunting cars in reclassification yards. I hope this is helpful and good luck.

[jrbarney]

TrainFreak409,
Two URLS you might want to try, if you haven't already, are:
http://www.railfan.net
and,
http://www.trainweb.org/marcrailfan
then click on Photos, then Other Railroad Photos, then Department of Defense, then Diesels & Freight Cars.
Hope this helps.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543