Gents -

I am a member of the Monon Railroad Historical-Technical Society. Tom Kepshire of the MRHTS recently was contacted by a gentleman by the name of Otto Smith, whose father was an engineer on the Monon. During the First World War, Otto's Dad served in the U.S. Army's Transportation Service, 1st Railway Divsion, 13th Grand Division and was stationed in Is-sur-Fille, Cote D'Or, France. Otto says that his father told him that their unit used French built engines with 2 French ladies doing the firing. Then in late 1918, the first American steam locomotive arrived, and Otto sent the attached photo to Tom. Although the wheel arrangement is hidden, I believe that this is probably a "Pershing" Consolidation. Can anyone confirm? Also, the engines number is 638. Can anyone advise any particulars on the locomotive just from this road number? I know that there is a "Pershing" 2-8-0 preserved at the museum in Green Bay and one restored down at the Texas State Railroad. But did any that went overseas during WW1, get saved?

Les

Les;

Engine #638 in your picture looks like it has a Baldwin builder's plate. #300 at the Texas State Railroad is construction #47032; and carried #645. So, a guess at this time would be it is Baldwin 47025/1917.

Of the overseas examples; I only know of one that has been saved. It is in Romania, and now carries the CFR number 140.117. It is Baldwin 53343/1920; the one in Green Bay is 48714/1918. Here is a webpage on 140.117:

http://www.turismferoviar.ro/en/locomotiva1.php

James -

Thanks for the information. Glad to see that at least one of the "Pershings" is still around overseas, and that it is apparently still operational. Great!

Les