Does anyone know of a good source for information regarding US Army diesel locomotives? Black Hills Central has Whitcomb 80-tonner S/N 60086, built as Stone & Webster 6657; later US Army 7379. It ended its career switching coal cars for Black Hills Power & Light at Kirk, SD. I'm trying to find out where it was in service during its time with Stone & Webster/US Army.

Jeff Terry

The Md. Rail Heritage Library has on its shelves about ten thick three-ring binders kept by a late contributor to Extra 2200 South, with rosters of just about ANY diesel/gas/etc. loco you could imagine up to 2000 or so. I know for a fact that there was a LOT of Army roster info in there, and it's possible that what you seek is in there.

Nag me if no one else comes through.

Hey Guys! Thanks for saving one of my fellow "soldiers".... :-)

If you are looking for manuals for Army Diesel Locomotives

TM 55-1279 is your source.

Rosters of service are a little harder to come by. If Alex doesn't have the info, than I have a conatcact at FT. Eustis who may be able to help. The thing with the army, is they never kept good records about what went where (Railroad wise) and after deaquisition....forget it. Most of what we know about where locomotives were rostered comes from the photographic record (except for a few of the steam locomotives that close tabs were kept on). I have a lot of Army Railroad stuff, so I'll take a look for you when I get home and see if I can dig anything up. Also, if you can't get hold of that manual, let me know, I can scrounge you a copy.

Brett

I would personally like to find more info on the rebuilds that the military performed (through contractors) on their industrial locomotives (GE 44, 65, 80 ton; Baldwin RS4-TC) in the 80s and 90s. I'm still a preservationist, but a "modernized" locomotive is just the ticket for those of us that like to operate small (read: easy on track and fuel) locomotives for our on-site ride, but don't like the headache (and cost) of dealing with CAT D17000's, etc.

Andrew Durden
Decatur, GA

Brett -

The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Indiana also has an Army "veteran" on its roster. Our Whitcomb 44-ton center cab diesel is s/n 60105 built 8/41 for Day & Zimmerman, a weapons contractor in Iowa, where she carried the road number 4-44. Apparently the operation there was taken over by Uncle Sam as the Whitcomb became U.S. Army #7308. After being declared surplus at the end of the Second World War she ended up working for McGraw Construction Company (number unknown), then Chicago Gravel as their #509 finally ending up at the Port of Indiana where she was painted in a Bi-centennial red/white/blue scheme and numbered 1776. She was eventally purchased by an individual who donated her to HVRM where she currently is painted black with yellow lettering and carries road number 27 (just above Erie 44-ton GE number 26). I will try to post a photo of her in her P of I paint scheme. BTW, she IS operational although our operating department says they are currently having some problems with her generator.

Les

I checked with Ken Ardinger and his database shows the locomotive's number was USA 8379, not 7379. It's listed on page 23 of the book "United States Army Transportation Corps Locomotives" by R. Tourret. Ken adds, "Stone & Webster was the operator of Kankakee Ordnance Works in Elwood, IL, where it was their #81. The Tourret book has a photo of the 82; it later was V-8379 or W-8379 at the Fort Randall Reservation, SD, in December 1947."

Thanks, everyone, for the responses. Tim, the information you've provided is very helpful. I really appreciate it!

Jeff Terry

RE: The Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum locomotive, Tourret's book lists the following:

USA 7307 has serial number 60105, was built in 1941, and was Iowa Ordnance Plant 4-44. USA 7308 has serial number 60106, was built in 1941, and was Iowa Ordnance Plant 5-44.

Note that serial number 60105 is for USA 7307, not 7308.

Tim -

Thanks. I am going to try to check our museum records to see what I can find. Is our unit USA 7307 or 7308? More later.

Les