As for the rest of the S-160s that remained in the U.S. -
Of the reported 2,120 S-160s that ware built, only a few operated in the U.S. The Alaska Railroad bought seven (ARR-551 - 557) new from Baldwin. All were modified for U.S. use with knuckle couplers, power reverse, generator, automatic fire door, bell, pilot, and a few other changes. Five others were apparently obtained by the ARR as war surplus. Of these, two (562 and 562) were obtained in May, 1948 and had previously operated at Camp Claiborne. It appears that the other three were obtained as war surplus but were new when acquired. These three were apparently configured for European use and the U.S. modifications were done by the Alaska Railroad. As best as I can tell, the only other S-160s were those at Ft. Eustis. Including 1702, I can account for five S-160s at Ft Eustis (606, 607, 611, and 612). 610, manufactured in 1952, was a variation on the S-160 design. I understand that some, but not all of the Ft. Eustis S-160s had power reverse adn it is likely that those configured similarly to the ones that came to Alaska. So . . . there were apparently only 17 S-160s that remained in the U.S. 1702 was the only one that went into commercial service. The Alaska Railroad was Federally owned and operated until 1985, when it became an independent corporation owned by the State of Alaska.
I have found no evidence that the S-160 designation was used by the military or the builders when the locomotives were built. I understand it was coined by Tourret when he misinterpreted some information from ALCO. It is not used on drawings or in meeting minutes made during the design process and attended by the project engineer and representatives of the three builders.
Tourret appears to have erred in saying two of the ARR locomotives had been to Europe. The two he says returned from Europe were the two that came from Camp Claiborne. Comparing operating rosters for Camp Claiborne and acquisition information from the Alaska Railroad, there was only a short time time when the locomotives aren't positively located and it is highly unlikely that a used locomotive would have been shipped to Europe and then to Alaska during that short time.
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