This came through on my Flickr feed. It's one I am not familiar with. I'm going to guess it's an Army 2-8-0 based on what I can see of the boiler. Anyone know her story?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24003480@N00/3861143224/

This is WP&YR 2-8-2 195, on display near downtown Skagway, Alaska since the early 1960s. I knew the site where it sits was starting to become overgrown, but this is ridiculous!

Jeff -

Yes. And the 195 is narrow gauge! There were a whole bunch (not sure exactly how many) of standard gauge U. S. Army 2-8-0's that ran on the Alaska Railroad, but I think only two still survive if I recall correctly.

Les

From what I remember, one or two of the USATC S-160s that served on the Alaska Railroad had the distinction of being one of the few that was returned from Europe. As many of you know, most of the active and roadworthy S-160s found second careers in Europe after the war.

BTW, the WP&Y 2-8-2 that is pictured looks a lot like one of the USATC 2-8-2s that ended up on the WP&Y during the war.

We here at Wasatch know of a few such locomotives left in the US. Indeed, they are S160's and indeed, many of them made their way to Europe both during and after the Second World War.

Of most note, the 610 at Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum is a converted USRA S160. These units are unique as the forward motion of the valve gear is actually the upper portion of the expansion link, not the lower portion like normal US built (and world wide) locomotives. TVRM actually has two of these locomotives. The second, which is non operational has poppet valves (?) ...I forget what it has, but is even more unique.

You can find a whole handful of these units in Poland and some still in Germany. I have seen many of them....I know of only one that actually operates on occasion. (two world wide, including the TVRM unit)

One is located in Moses Lake, WA. It is a real beauty! I have inspected the locomotive. You can see the results on our web page under the Monte Holm project. The locomotive is For Sale and a very good value! Go to http://www.wrrc.us

Go to the projects page for more information.

Indeed, there is still one S160 in Alaska, however it is in the worse shape of all of the S160's that I know of.

If you wish to learn more about the Monte Holm S160, you are welcome to contact me directly:

jrimmasch@wrrc.us

Regards,

John E. Rimmasch
Wasatch Railroad Contractors

Not to nit-pick John, you do good work, but I was under the imperssion that the 610 was not an S-160, having been built several years after the end of the war. Also, I believe the locomotive has different dimensions, maybe an inch or two. Yes, she's close to a S-160, but not really one. I believe she was a one-off built for the Army by BLH.

Did we ever figure out who ended up with the Poppet Valve S-160? I remember that TVRM was looking to remove it from their collection.

Dennis, you are correct. TVRM 610 is an Army class A locomotive, and is not a true S160, but a slightly updated version. I seem to recall that the bore and stroke as well as boiler pressure is slightly different, but most other dimensions and specifications are the same as or close to the stock S160 models. Let us not forget that Great Smoky 1702 is a stock S160 that has been operating in recent memory and may again someday.

Michael Brown

TVRM 611 was shipped out late summer or early fall 2009 destined, I believe, for Maryland to a private collector.
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPi ... id=1645688

There's also one or two operational in the UK.

How does a locomotive get to be in that bad of a condition? I've seen locomotives that were missing parts, but how do you lose an entire driving axle?

The driver was removed from 611 several years ago so the driver boxes could be used as patterns for new driver boxes on the 1702. If I remember the move photos correctly, the driver was put back in before the 611 went to the private owner near Cumberland, MD. Otherwise this is how 611 looked when it arrived in Chattanooga. TVRM had purchased many parts including a pilot truck from Poland to make the 611 whole again and those parts went to Maryland as well. The 611 is a neat little engine with the poppet valves and I hope it gets the attention needed to make it look good again.

John Bohon

Actually, "Little 611" left Chattanooga sans the 4th driver as well as the pilot truck (although they traveled along via an additional vehicle.) The driver was never reinstalled after being dropped to make castings for the 1702 several years before. 611 was an 0-6-0 for quite some time before heading in a northerly direction.

John: In reference to the "extra" Polish lead truck, TVRM still has it in case it is ever needed. 611 had her own "loose" original which came from Texas.

BTW: Speaking of lead trucks, 610's is out right now as she's being prepped for the 2010 season.

Thanks Steve. I remeber seeing one of the pilot trucks on a flatcar but I am not sure I ever knew there were two of the trucks. I am not sure why I remembered all the drivers under 611 on the truck. I hope both little 610 and little 611 have bright futures. What is wrong with the pilot truck on 610?

John Bohon

It's missing!?! David & crew have removed it and George was doing some welding on the frame today. That's the extent of my technical knowledge on that subject. And my contribution to the project? I took photos. Maybe you'll see one or two in your favorite rail-related, non-profit corporation's newsletter. Time will tell.

So is this old girl under restoration? For such a late model steam she seems in really poor shape. She looks like a real money pit.

Tom - You may be confusing the numbers. USA 611 (poppet valves) is in Maryland with no lead truck. USA 610 is at TVRM with no lead truck but being readied for its 20th season of operation.

John - Here is the Polish lead truck previously mentioned: