Hi friends,

I have been pondering how many USRA steamers are still with us.

To count for this list, the engine must have been built for the USRA or a USRA-requested ordered during WWI (not a copy or similar design).

Copies of the design do not count.

0-6-0
Any?

0-8-0
I have heard there is an L&N USRA 0-8-0 at the KRM, but I have not confirmed. My records indicate she is a USRA copy.

2-10-0
There are 6 surviving "Russian" Decapods (all served the USRA).

2-8-2
Of the light Mikados, the very first one (and first USRA loco overall), B&O #4500 is in Baltimore. Then there are Frisco #4003 (Fort Smith, AR) and #4018 (Birmingham, AL). Both are PRR rejects. Union Pacific #2537 is in Jefferson Park Walla Walla, WA. Indiana's Lake Erie & Western #5541/ Nickel Plate No. 587 is a USRA loco.

That makes five true USRA light Mikes. GTW #3734 (now #4070) was a copy, correct? Not a USRA order? I think she was built in 1923.

4-6-2
Of the Pacifics, I think only light 4-6-2 ACL #1504 remains near a convention center in Jacksonville, Florida.

So, is that it? Any bigger USRA's? 4-8-2? 2-6-6-2? 2-8-8-2?

Just 6 Decapods, five Light Mikes and a Pacific?

Rob Davis

Ahead of the Torch
trains@robertjohndavis.com

> Hi friends,

> I have been pondering how many USRA steamers
> are still with us.

> To count for this list, the engine must have
> been built for the USRA or a USRA-requested
> ordered during WWI (not a copy or similar
> design).

> Copies of the design do not count.

> 0-6-0
> Any?

None that I have listed as such.

> 0-8-0
> I have heard there is an L&N USRA 0-8-0
> at the KRM, but I have not confirmed. My
> records indicate she is a USRA copy.

L&N #2132 was built in 1922, so I concur that it is a copy.

> 2-10-0
> There are 6 surviving "Russian"
> Decapods (all served the USRA).

Domestically, of course. In the former Soviet Union itself, there are four "Russian Decapods" that were built between 1915 and 1917. Another one was dumped at Baotou Steelworks & Depot, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China; it may be gone now.

> 2-8-2
> Of the light Mikados, the very first one
> (and first USRA loco overall), B&O #4500
> is in Baltimore. Then there are Frisco #4003
> (Fort Smith, AR) and #4018 (Birmingham, AL).
> Both are PRR rejects. Union Pacific #2537 is
> in Jefferson Park Walla Walla, WA. Indiana's
> Lake Erie & Western #5541/ Nickel Plate
> No. 587 is a USRA loco.

No arguement here.

> That makes five true USRA light Mikes. GTW
> #3734 (now #4070) was a copy, correct? Not a
> USRA order? I think she was built in 1923.

No, it was built in 1918. Would it be a copy? The class was S-3-a.

> 4-6-2
> Of the Pacifics, I think only light 4-6-2
> ACL #1504 remains near a convention center
> in Jacksonville, Florida.

Once again, no arguement here.

> So, is that it? Any bigger USRA's? 4-8-2?
> 2-6-6-2? 2-8-8-2?

> Just 6 Decapods, five Light Mikes and a
> Pacific?

Maybe not. I joined the Yahoo group on Philippine Railways mentioned by Bob Yarger, and looked through the photographs and messages.

In the photos of sugar mill engines on the main island of Luzon is two pictures of a 2-6-6-2, which, according to the description, was built by Baldwin for Russia in 1917. I assume that when deliveries to Russia were halted, it was sent to the Phillipines instead.

I need to ask the Phillipine Railways list, but near as I can tell it may have been in use as a stationary boiler as late as 1991. If I understand correctly, all sugar mills on Luzon are shut down now; and the mill where this Mallet was lasted used is now derelict.

I assume it was a USRA 2-6-6-2?

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james1@pernet.net

L&N 2152 (Sorry James, not 2132) is a USRA copy. It is way too late for me to drag out my reference material but I think the L&N did have some true USRA switchers, but I am not sure.

david.wilkins@bardstown.com

> 2-10-0
> There are 6 surviving "Russian"
> Decapods (all served the USRA).

Domestically, of course. In the former Soviet Union itself, there are four "Russian Decapods" that were built between 1915 and 1917. Another one was dumped at Baotou Steelworks & Depot, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China; it may be gone now.

Two Novembers ago, while with Daugerty, Conrad, and Scott in China, there were two "oddballs" in the dump behind the shop in Baotou. One was a Russian 2-10-2 narrowed down, and the other was a WWII era USA built 2-10-0. It this perhaps the Decapod referred to? I do not have my notes here at work, but at home I have the numbers. Could not determine which American company built the Dec.

Steve Zuiderveen



SZuidervee@aol.com

> Two Novembers ago, while with Daugerty,
> Conrad, and Scott in China, there were two
> "oddballs" in the dump behind the
> shop in Baotou. One was a Russian 2-10-2
> narrowed down, and the other was a WWII era
> USA built 2-10-0. It this perhaps the
> Decapod referred to? I do not have my notes
> here at work, but at home I have the
> numbers. Could not determine which American
> company built the Dec.

Steve,

Congratulations, the three of you saw Soviet built 2-10-2 FD 1653 (Voroshilovgrad 12148/1931) and 2-10-0 DK2 114 (ex Russian Decopod of unknown number, thought to have been built by ALCO in 1917.) I am delighted to hear that they both are still around.

Please, please tell me you took pictures of both that I can publish in "Surviving World Steam Locomotives". The last picture I have seen of DK2 114 was taken by railway photographer Colin Garrett over 10 years ago.

-James Hefner
Hebrews 10:20a

Surviving World Steam Locomotives
james1@pernet.net

I have very wedgy shots of both locos, due to location in dead line. The Deck really looked newer than WWI, we thought it was WWII. It also seemed to have had the tall steam dome cut down.

I shoot a PhD (Push Here, Dummy) camera, so these are not "mastershot" quality. However, I have incredible video from that trip, including a four header going to the steel mill out of Chengde. I will see if I can find the pics this weekend and scan when I get back to work next week.

Steve

> Steve,

> Congratulations, the three of you saw Soviet
> built 2-10-2 FD 1653 (Voroshilovgrad
> 12148/1931) and 2-10-0 DK2 114 (ex Russian
> Decopod of unknown number, thought to have
> been built by ALCO in 1917.) I am delighted
> to hear that they both are still around.

> Please, please tell me you took pictures of
> both that I can publish in "Surviving
> World Steam Locomotives". The last
> picture I have seen of DK2 114 was taken by
> railway photographer Colin Garrett over 10
> years ago.

> -James Hefner
> Hebrews 10:20a


SZuidervee@aol.com

I was involved with #4070 in the late '70's when it was actively being used on the Cuyahoga Valley Line, and it was always represented as being an original USRA Light Mike. I believe it was constructed during the war, but delivered to the GTW after combat ended.



pww57@hotmail.com