Samoht,
Welcome to the forum. I have been a great fan of the S-160's for many years. I was fortunate enough to have seen them at the US Army Transportation Center at Ft. Eustis, Virginai during the early 1970s and to have spent many hours riding, running and wiping the Reader Railroad #1702 when it was at Reader.
I would really love to see "Big Jim" running over there someday soon. I understood there were 4 S-160s in the UK.
Roger
Thanks for the reply Roger, There are 5 S160s in the U.K. 2253,3278,5197,5820 and 6064. Of these only 5197 is in service at the moment but 3 others are being restored. 5197 is due for it's 10 year overhaul at the end of the year and hopefully it will be a quick return to service as it will use the overhauled boiler from 6046.Hopefully in 2 years time we should have both of them running.
The S160s are very popular over here and 5197 has been to several railways for what we call Stations at War. On the line that we preserved S160s did actually run during and shortly after the war so it's not out of place here. Unfortunately none of the S160s used in the U.K.survived so those that are here now have been scoured from overseas.
Hoping to do another trip stateside next year and hear some of your long mournful whistles and horns. Cheers Jeff.
Hi all, Does anyone know how many S160s were built, how many are in preservation and how many of these are in the U.S.A. They were so widely spread around the world I think we may be surprised at how many are still around. They could be the biggest class of preserved locos in the world. Cheers Jeff.
samoht wrote: Hi all, Does anyone know how many S160s were built, how many are in preservation and how many of these are in the U.S.A. They were so widely spread around the world I think we may be surprised at how many are still around. They could be the biggest class of preserved locos in the world. Cheers Jeff.
According toTourrett, "Allied War Locomotives" 2120 were built for the US Army.
There were three built for Jamaica, two for Peru and ten built new for Mexico, so 2135 total.
I think at least one is preserved in China.
By the way, there is no such thing as a "Class S-160". This is a misinterpretation of the Alco shorthand description of the type "280-S-160" where 280 meant 2-8-0 (obviously), the "S" indicated superheating and "160" indicated 160 000 lbs locomotive weight.
But S-160 is not a USATC classification or one used by anyone else.
But all Alco locomotives had this descrption used in tabulations, so a "Big Boy" was shown as 4884-S-800, so you could call them "class S-800" with as much justification.
That does mean a Big Boy weighed five times as much as a USATC 2-8-0, showing how small they were.
M636C
This was discussed on the monumental "British Railway Operations" thread:-
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/531254/ShowPost.aspx
I think it's within the last couple of pages.
Technically there are eight ex USATC 2-8-0's in the UK. Two are frames only, and one is dismantled (and for sale.)
As M636 points out, although S160 has become a generic class description only the Schenectady products can truly claim to be S160's. The Alco built ones are the currently dismantled one, and the one at the Mid Hants.
Yours were products of Lima (5197) and Baldwin (6046).
Now I've looked at this again I'm even more confused!
USATC "1631" is at Ruddington. This is either listed as Alco 70284 of 1942 OR Alco 70610 of 1943. The source giving the identity as 70610 is the Industrial Railway Society, whom I'd usually regard as the most reliable authority on identity disputes. Depending on the true identity of the frames the USATC number may be incorrect, but 1631 would correspond with a 1942 build.
Industrial Railway Society list the frames of 70284 as being at Ian Riley's, Buckley Wells.
The frames of USATC 2364 (Baldwin 69621 of 1943) are also listed at Buckley Wells by once source, at Ribble Valley, Preston by another source and not at all by the Industrial Railway Society. For what it's worth I don't think they're at Preston.
Make of the above what you will!
Jeff - The USATC at Ruddington has been confirmed as Alco 70610, USATC No. 2128. For sale, but dismantled and incomplete.
How many remain globally is a fine question. All of the UK examples have been imported (5197 came from China, 6046 from Hungary, others came from Italy and Poland) so there's doubtless others in Europe and beyond still existing.
How many are actually OPERABLE is probably an easier question - I'd suggest probably none!
There is one S-160 running in the USA. The TVRM has the #610 running and also has the remains of the #611 (ex-2628). The 611 is the engine that was converted in 1950 to use the Franklin Rotary Poppet valve gear. It was operated/tested on the Ma&Pa (Maryland & Pennsylvania RR) for about 18 months before moving on to Ft. Eustis, VA.
The Great Smokey Mountains RR has the ex-Reader RR #1702. I understand it is down for an overhaul but should come back to life next year. Hopefully sooner!
There is an Alaska RR engine (#556) in a park in Anchorage, AK. Her sister, #557, is in Washington State and was for sale a few months ago. The owner passed away and the heirs were trying to sell the engine.
The ex-Ft. Eustis engines besides the 610 & 611 are scattered around and in various stages of repair.
606-Crewe, VA dressed up as N&W 606. Cosmetically nice.
607-Ft.Eustis, VA in the US Army museum. Exposed & deteriorating rapidly. Last operated in 1974?
612-Cass, WV totally neglected since arrival in 1974(?)
Those are the only eight S-160's left in the USA that I have been able to locate. The 610 was technically not one of the War Engines as she was built in 1952 or 53.
Jeff,
I hope your visit is a good one. Like I said the 1702 is supposed to be under a rebuild at this time. I believe the 610 is running now.
I would check out the web sites for the TVRM and GSM and get their addresses and then go to map quest to see about the driving between them. It's not a terribly long drive and it's an extremely beautiful area. If you have the time during your visit you could reasonably do Crewe and Newport News, VA to see the 606 and 607.
Enjoy and post some photos of the trip.
Roger,Many thanks for the information. I went on the TVRM website it's absolutely superb, the virtual tour with all the sights and sounds of 610 were out of this world. It showed some of the differencies between the American and the exported locos the most obvious one I suppose is the cowcatcher, the whistle also sounds different, yours sounds a lot more mournful and moving.
It's strange that both the TVRM and our own CVR both have tunnels, ours is slightly longer at 1593 ft and still uses wooden keys to keep the rails in place, it is dry and when we walk the line ( I'm in the p-way ) its nice and cool in summer and warmer in the winter. Cheers Jeff.
Have you been to "You Tube" and checked out the videos of the 610 at the TVRM? They have some nice stuff on her and the 4501 too. Also look up "S-160" and there are some great shots of the ones running in the UK.
I'd be inclined to suggest that the differences - if there are any - would be negligible.
They were built to a specification laid down by USATC and I should imagine that specification was rigorously adhered to.
As a UK comparison I'd suggest the 8F. The majority of 8F's were built during WW2 at a variety of locations but to Stanier drawings. Externally it was impossible to deduce where they were built.
samoht wrote:that both the TVRM and our own CVR both have tunnels, ours is slightly longer at 1593 ft and still uses wooden keys to keep the rails in place, it is dry and when we walk the line ( I'm in the p-way ) its nice and cool in summer and warmer in the winter. Cheers Jeff.
The tender tank for 6046 has now been fabricated from new and is ready to lifted on the refurbished bottom end. The work on the engine is progressing, but will slow down as the 8F 48173 recently purchased will shortly take priority. 5197 is still running well, rode behind her on Sunday for the Wizards Weekend with the Grandaughters.It sounded great echoing down the valley on a lovely sunny day. Yes Tulyar15 it is the Churnet Valley Railway and you would be most welcome at any time.
Now heres a bargain on February 23rd ( Gala weekend ) between 12-30 and 17-15 YOU can drive the S160 from the bay platform down the demonstration line for just £10 or $20 if you can make it .Cheers to all, Jeff.
For some great photos of S160 5197 look up www.davegibsonphotography.co.uk he is the offical photographer for the Churnet Valley. The photos are mixed with others in the galleries so enjoy.If there is much response I will get him to start a separate gallery on the 2 S160s. Cheers Jeff.
Well we had a great gala last weekend, the S160 was in fine form,it was used banking a train from Froghall and the sounds of it pushing it's heart out was magic. It also worked singley and in double headed modes.There was also a queue to drive it for $18 and there is a video of it on U tube with wheelslip ( it's by br73082 ) mixed in with other locos in the gala. The second S160 was on display, framework complete,cylinders rebored almost ready to receive the wheels. The tender tank had been set upon it's wheels and frame.It's getting there. Cheers.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.