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USATC S-160 2-8-0s

United States Army Transport Corps

  
 
 

 
 
The front end of a USATC S160 2-8-0 at Ropley on the Mid-Hants Railway in 1985. This locomotive was built by Alco at Schenectady in New York state in 1944 as works number 71533. Following renovation and painting into Longmoor Military Railway colours she carried the number 701 and the name "Franklin D Roosevelt".
 

 
A Baldwin Locomotive Works official photograph of USATC S-160 number 2626. 

   

	On 19th March 1943 the GWR directed that USATC S-160 locomotives being landed at Cardiff Docks would be sent to GWR Newport, Ebbw Junction shed.  Those arriving at Birkenhead Docks were to be despatched to GWR Wolverhampton Stafford Road.

  
   
 
USATC S-160 number 5820 in preservation in Howarth shed on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in 1985. This locomotive was built by Lima in Ohio in 1945 as works number 8758. 

	REC Operating Committee Minute 3747 of 29th January 1943   27 S-160 locomotives had arrived in Britain and were temporary in use by the GWR.     REC Operating Committee Minute 3944 of 26th March 1943   Number of USATC S-160 locomotives arrived in Britain had risen to 60, of which 27 were in service.        "Arrivals at ports in London, East Coast, Glasgow and Manchester to be dealt with by LNE CME"   "Arrivals at Birkenhead and South Wales ports to be dealt with by GWR CME"   ."CMEs may send locos to own shops or sub contract them to another company"

     
 
Diagram of a USATC S-160 steam locomotive.  The letters ETO stood for European Theater of Operations.  Modellers and others may wish to know that there is a much larger, better quality and more detailed diagram in the book "A Pictorial Record of British Railways Standard Steam Locomotives Volume Two" by Edward Talbot.
 

 
 
USATC 2131 at an unknown location in Britain. The signal beyond the loco's tender suggests the photograph was taken somewhere on the GWR. This locomotive was one of four shipped from the USA to Britain aboard the "Montevideo". On the 14th of May 1943 the vessel was reported due to arrive at Swansea around 23rd May.
Photograph Edward Talbot collection.
         
 
Another view of USATC S-160 number 5820 in preservation in Howarth shed on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in 1985. The locomotive was Lima 8758 of 1945. 
  

 
 
Longmoor Military Railway 700 under repair at the works of W. G. Bagnall in Stafford on 27th March 1954. This loco was Alco 71512 of 1944 and had previously carried the numbers USATC 3257 and WD 93257.
 

    
 
USATC 2280 at an unknown location in Britain. The GWR 0-6-0 Pannier Tank behind the loco's tender suggests the photograph was taken somewhere on the GWR. This locomotive was one of four shipped from the USA to Britain aboard the "Molda". On the 6th of August 1943 the vessel was reported due to arrive at Swansea around 14th August.
Photograph Edward Talbot collection.
 

    
 
USATC 1707 at Stratford. The locomotive arrived in Britain on 17th March 1943 and entered service on the LNER the following month.
 
This locomotive suffered a catastrophic failure of the firebox crown when near the centre of the tunnel at South Harrow on the LNER at 03:45 on 30th August 1944. The train involved was the 02:45 from Neasden to Wooford, comprised of 19 wagons plus a brake van.
 
Collapse of the firebox crown was due to low water level in the boiler. The footplate crew at the time were very experienced on this type of locomotive, but had not reacted to the dangerously low water level in the boiler. The official report on the incident suggested this was either because of accidentally faulty manipulation of the steam valve or misreading the water level indication due to the darkness. Photograph Edward Talbot collection.
   
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