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USATC S100 Class

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USATC S100 class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerHoward G. Hill
BuilderDavenport Locomotive Works (109),
H. K. Porter, Inc (150),
Vulcan Iron Works (123)
Build date1942–1944
Total produced382
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-6-0T
 • UICC nt
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)
Minimum curve150 ft (45.72 m) radius
Length29 ft 6 in (8.99 m)
Width9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
Height12 ft 1+58 in (3.70 m)
Loco weight100,650 lb (45,654 kilograms)
Fuel typeCoal or Oil
Fuel capacity2,500 lb (1,130 kilograms) coal, or
300 US gallons (1,100 L; 250 imp gal) oil
Water cap.1,200 US gallons (4,500 L; 1,000 imp gal)
Firebox:
 • Grate areaFirst 50: 19.4 sq ft (1.80 m2),
Remainder: 18.3 sq ft (1.70 m2)
Boiler pressure210 lbf/in2 (1.45 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Firebox86 sq ft (8.0 m2)
 • Tubes790 sq ft (73 m2)
 • Total surface876 sq ft (81.4 m2)
SuperheaterNone
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size16.5 in × 24 in (419 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gearOutside Walschaerts
Valve type8-inch (203 mm) piston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort21,630 lbf (96.2 kN)
Factor of adh.4.65
Career
OperatorsUSATC
DispositionAt least 25 known preserved, possibly more in derelict condition, remainder scrapped

The United States Army Transportation Corps (USATC) S100 Class is a 0-6-0 steam locomotive that was designed for switching (shunting) duties in Europe and North Africa during World War II. After the war, they were used on railways in Austria, China, Egypt, France, Great Britain, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Palestine, the United States, and Yugoslavia.

Wartime development and use

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The S100 is a side tank design by Col. Howard G. Hill. In 1942, the USATC ordered 382 S100s from Davenport Locomotive Works of Iowa, H. K. Porter, Inc, of Pittsburgh and Vulcan Iron Works of Wilkes-Barre. They were shipped to the British War Department in 1943, where they were stored until 1944. After D-Day, most went overseas but some remained in store.[1]


Construction

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Builders Construction
numbers
Years Quantity USATC numbers
H. K. Porter,
7408 – 7422
1942
15
USATC 1252 – USATC 1266
Vulcan Iron Works
4365 – 4384
1942
20
USATC 1267 – USATC 1286
Davenport Locomotive Works
2417 – 2431
1942
15
USATC 1287 – USATC 1301
2473 – 2487
1943
15
USATC 1302 – USATC 1316
H. K. Porter
7501 – 7512
1942
12
USATC 1387 – USATC 1398
7513 – 7550
1943
38
USATC 1399 – USATC 1436
Davenport Locomotive Works
2492 – 2516
1943
25
USATC 1927 – USATC 1951
Vulcan Iron Works
4425 – 4474
1943
50
USATC 1952 – USATC 2001
4475 – 4503
1943
29
USATC 4313 – USATC 4341
Davenport Locomotive Works
2521 – 2550
1943
30
USATC 4372 – USATC 4401
H. K. Porter
7460 – 7468
1942
9
USATC 5000 – USATC 5008
7483 – 7489
1942
7
USATC 5009 – USATC 5015
7490 – 7501
1943
12
USATC 5016 – USATC 5027
7571 – 7600
1943
30
USATC 5028 – USATC 5057
7616 – 7618
1943
3
USATC 5058 – USATC 5060
Davenport Locomotive Works
2589 – 2591
1943
3
USATC 6000 – USATC 6002
2592 – 2612
1944
21
USATC 6003 – USATC 6023
H. K. Porter
7660 – 7683
1944
24
USATC 6080 – USATC 6103
Vulcan Iron Works
4530 – 4553
1944
24
USATC 6160 – USATC 6183

Use after the Second World War

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After the Second World War, SNCF bought 77 S100's and designated them class 030TU. Jugoslovenske železnice (Yugoslav State Railways) bought many S100's and designated them class 62. In the 1950s JŽ assembled more examples bringing the number of class 62 to 129. The Hellenic State Railways in Greece acquired 20 S100's and designated them class Δα (Delta-alpha). Österreichische Bundesbahnen in Austria acquired 10 and designated them class 989. Ferrovie dello Stato in Italy acquired four and designated them class 831.

Several were sold into industrial use in the US, including to Georgia Power[2] and Oklahoma Gas & Electric.[3]

The Oranje-Nassau Mijnen, a coal mining company in The Netherlands acquired two S100's (USATC 4389 and 1948)and numbered them ON-26 (Davenport 2533) and ON-27 (Davenport 2513) respectively. The ON-26 survived the scrapyard and was sold to the museum railway Stoomtrein Goes-Borsele.[4]

Other S100's entered British industrial use with the National Coal Board, Longmoor Military Railway, Austin Motor Company and others.

China acquired about 20 S100's, designating them class XK2. In 1946, Egyptian State Railways bought eight and numbered them 1151–1158.[5] The UK War Department loaned six to Palestine Railways. In 1946 PR bought two of these, both of which subsequently entered the stock of Israel Railways in 1948.[6]

Iraqi State Railways bought five, designated them Class SA, and gave them fleet numbers 1211–1215.[7] All five were Davenport-built examples. At least two were still in service in March 1967: 1211 at Basrah[8] and 1214 as the station pilot at Baghdad West.[9]

Southern Railway

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Southern Railway USA class
USA class locomotive No. 30073 at Eastleigh MPD in August 1966.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerCol. Howard G. Hill.
Builder
ModelS100
Build date1942-43
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-6-0T
 • UICC n2t
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.55.2 in (1.402 m)
Wheelbase10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
Length29 ft 8 in (9.04 m)
Loco weight46 long tons 10 cwt (47.2 t; 52.1 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity17.8 short hundredweight (0.81 t; 0.79 long tons)
Water cap.1,000 imp gal (4,500 L; 1,200 US gal)
Boiler pressure210 psi (1.45 MPa)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size16+12 in × 24 in (419 mm × 610 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Valve type8 in (203 mm) piston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort21,630 lbf (96.22 kN)
Career
Operators
ClassSR: USA
Power classBR: 3F
Number in class14 (plus one bought for spares)
NicknamesYank Tanks
LocaleSouthampton Docks
Withdrawn1962–1967
Preserved30064, 30065, 30070, 30072, others of base S100 class
DispositionFour preserved, remainder scrapped
Sources: [10][page needed] and [1]

The Southern Railway (UK) bought 15 S100's (14 for operational use and one for spare parts) and designated them USA Class. They were purchased and adapted to replace the LSWR B4 class then working in Southampton Docks. SR staff nicknamed them "Yank Tanks".[11][12]

By 1946 the SR needed either to renew or replace the ageing B4, D1 and E1 class tanks used in Southampton Docks, but Eastleigh Works was not in a position to do so in a timely manner or at an economic price. The replacement locomotives would need to have a short wheelbase to negotiate the tight curves found in the dockyard, but be able to haul heavy goods trains as well as full-length passenger trains in the harbour area.[10][page needed] The railway's Chief mechanical engineer, Oliver Bulleid therefore inspected the surplus War Department tank locomotives. The Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST locomotives stored at the Longmoor Military Railway proved to be unsuitable for dock work because of their 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) wheelbase and inside cylinders, and also many of the survivors were in poor condition.[1] However, the S100s stored at Newbury Racecourse had a 10 ft 0 in (3.05 m) wheelbase, outside cylinders and had hardly been used. Those available for sale had been built by the Vulcan Iron Works of Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania and H. K. Porter, Inc, of Pittsburgh.

Bulleid therefore took Vulcan-built locomotive WD4236[13] on approval in May 1946 and tested it thoroughly over the next few months. When it was found to be suitable, this locomotive and a further thirteen were purchased in 1947 for £2500 each.[13] Six of these had been built by Porter and the remainder by Vulcan. However, when it was discovered that there were differences in dimensions between the locomotives from different builders the SR exchanged its Porter built locomotives for Vulcans, but could only do so with five examples. The railway therefore accepted one Porter locomotive at a reduced price and purchased another to provide spare parts.[1] Thus, the thirteen further locomotives entered traffic between April and November 1947 as soon as they had been adapted.

Construction and adaptation

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Original drawings for the S100, dated 29 November 1941.

Following purchase, members of the class were fitted with steam heating, vacuum ejectors, sliding cab windows, additional lamp irons and new cylinder drain cocks.[14][10][page needed] Further modifications became necessary once the locomotives started to enter traffic, including large roof-top ventilators, British-style regulators (as built they had US-style pull-out ones), three rectangular cab-front lookout windows, extended coal bunkers, separate steam and vacuum brake controls and wooden tip-up seats. This meant that it took until November 1947 for the entire class to be ready for work.[15][16] Radio-telephones were later installed on the footplate to improve communication on the vast network of sidings at Southampton.[16]

The class was allocated the British Railways (BR) power classification 3F following nationalisation in 1948.

Numbering

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The original locomotive carried the War Department number 4326, and the subsequent purchase were numbered between 1264 and 1284 and between 1952 and 1973. Thirteen of the locomotives were re-numbered in a single sequence from 61 to 73 by SR but 4326 retained its War Department number. The locomotive used for spares was not numbered. After 1948 they were renumbered 30061–30074 by BR. Six examples were transferred to departmental (non-revenue earning) use in 1962/3 and renumbered DS233–DS238.

Livery

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During the Second World War they were painted USATC black with white numbering and lettering 'Transportation Dept.' on the tank sides. Prior to nationalisation, the locomotives were painted in Southern black livery with 'Southern' in "Sunshine Yellow" lettering. The lettering on the tank sides was changed to 'British Railways' during 1948 as a transitional measure. Finally, the class was painted in BR Departmental Malachite livery, with BR crests on the water tank sides and numbers on the cab sides.

Operational details

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30069 at Eastleigh Works in 1966

For fifteen years the entire class was used for shunting and carriage and van heating in Southampton Docks. They performed well and were popular with the footplatemen, but the limited bunker capacity often necessitated the provision of relief engines for some of the longer duties. Two examples were fitted with extended bunkers to address this problem in 1959 and 1960, but a more ambitious plan to extend the frames and build larger bunkers was abandoned in 1960 due to the imminent dieselization of the docks.[17] They also often suffered from overheated axleboxes which was less of a problem when shunting but prevented them from being used on longer journeys.[16]

A more serious issue was the condition of the steel fireboxes originally fitted to the class which rusted and fatigued quickly. This was partly due to their construction under conditions of austerity, and the hard water present in the docks. This came to a head in 1951 when several had to be laid aside until new fireboxes could be constructed.[16][10][page needed] Thereafter there were no further problems.

The class was replaced from their shunting duties at Southampton from 1962 by British Rail Class 07 diesel-electric shunters, when the first member of the class was withdrawn, but the remainder were still in fairly good condition. The survivors were used for informal departmental purposes such as providing steam heating at Southampton or shunting at Eastleigh Motive Power Depot, before the withdrawal. 30072[13] became the pilot locomotive at Guildford Motive Power Depot and continued to carry out this duty until the end of steam on the Southern in July 1967.[13] Six examples were officially transferred to ‘departmental’ duties and renumbered. These went to Redbridge Sleeper Depot (DS233), Meldon Quarry (DS234), Lancing Carriage Works (DS235 and DS236), and Ashford wagon works (DS237 and DS238; where they were named Maunsell and Wainwright).[18]

Nine examples remained in service until March 1967[19] and five of these survived until the end of steam on the Southern Region four months later.[10][page needed] Two of these engines, 30065/DS237 and 30070/DS238, were sold to Woodham Brothers in South Wales in March 1968. However, before they could make their journey, their bearings ran hot and were declared "unfit for travel" which lead to the two tank engines being dumped at Tonbridge. Five months later, they were taken to Rolvenden where they were purchased for preservation.[20]

Stock list

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USATC No. SR No. BR No. Dept No. Builder Year Withdrawn Notes
1264 61 30061 DS 233 Porter 7420 1942 March 1967
1277 62 30062 DS 234 Vulcan 4375 1942 March 1967
1284 63 30063 Vulcan 4382 1942 May 1962 Withdrawn due to collision damage
1959 64 30064 Vulcan 4432 1943 July 1967 Preserved
1968 65 30065 DS 237 Vulcan 4441 1943 August 1965 Preserved
1279 66 30066 DS 235 Vulcan 4377 1942 August 1965
1282 67 30067 Vulcan 4380 1942 July 1967
1971 68 30068 Vulcan 4444 1943 June 1964
1952 69 30069 Vulcan 4425 1943 July 1967
1960 70 30070 DS 238 Vulcan 4433 1943 October 1962 Preserved
1966 71 30071 Vulcan 4439 1943 July 1967
1973 72 30072 Vulcan 4446 1943 July 1967 Preserved
1974 73 30073 Vulcan 4437 1943 December 1966
4326 74* 30074 DS 236 Vulcan 4488 1943 August 1965 Never carried SR number[21]

Postwar design influence

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Several European railways produced designs based on the S100. JŽ added to their class 62 by ordering several similar examples from Đuro Đaković (factory) of Slavonski Brod, Croatia. These differed in minor details, principally the use of plate frames instead of bar frames, resulting in a higher boiler pitch. This gives the steam pipes a shoulder instead of being straight, and requires smaller domes with a flatter top to fit JŽ's loading gauge.

The British Great Western Railway (GWR) had used many S100s in South Wales during the Second World War. The GWR 1500 Class was partially inspired by the S100 in its use of outside cylinders and short wheelbase.

Original drawings for the S100, dated 29 November 1941

Continuing commercial use

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A small number of former JŽ 62's remain in commercial service, more than 65 years after they were built. At least two work as switcher locomotives (shunter locomotives) at the ArcelorMittal steel plant in Zenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina.[22]

Survival and preservation

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More than 100 S100s survive: either preserved, stored, or derelict. Most are in Europe or North America, but there are also two in China and one in Egypt. Project 62 has an online database of them.[23]

Private owners in Baraboo, Wisconsin, are currently restoring S100 #5002. #5002 was used for the Naval Yards in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later sold to the EJ Lavino Company in Pennsylvania, then sold to Tombstone Junction and later to the Kentucky Railroad Museum.

In 2006, one was purchased for preservation from steelworks in central Bosnia and was sent to Britain.[24]

USATC No. Builder Post World War II Owner Location Image
1310 Davenport 2481 SEK Δα61 Thessaloniki, Greece
1311 Davenport 2482 Anshan Steel XK2-51 Sujiatun, Liaoning, China
1396 H.K. Porter 7510 62-084 Gračac, Croatia
1415 H.K. Porter 7529 SEK Δα53 Thessaloniki, Greece
1430 H.K. Porter 7544 Benxi Steel XK2-28 Benxi, Liaoning, China
1923 Vulcan 4770 U.S. Army Transportation Museum
1959 Vulcan 4432 SR 64 later BR 30064 Privately owned
1960 Vulcan 4433 SR 70 later BR 30070 Kent and East Sussex Railway
1961 Vulcan 4433 ÖBB 989.01 later Zuckerfabrik Siegendorf 2 Probstdorf, Austria
1968 Vulcan 4441 SR 65 later BR 30065 Kent and East Sussex Railway
1972 Vulcan 4446 SR 72 later BR 30072 Ribble Steam Railway
1987 Vulcan 4460 SEK Δα65 Tithorea, Greece
1999 Vulcan 4472 SEK Δα55 Railway Museum of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
4383 Davenport 2532 SNCF 030.TU.22 Musée vivant du chemin de fer, Longueville, France
4389 Davenport 2533 Oranje-Nassau coal mines Stoomtrein Goes - Borsele, Netherlands
4400 Davenport 2549 SEK Δα57 Thessaloniki, Greece
5001 H.K. Porter 7461 Granite Rock Co. 10 California State Railroad Museum
5002 H.K. Porter 7462 EJ Lavino & Co 2 U.S. Army Transportation Museum
5014 H.K. Porter 7488 Goldfield, Nevada
5019 H.K. Porter 7499 Albermarle Paper Co 1 Old Dominion Chapter NRHS
5042 H.K. Porter 7584 62-046 Chemin de fer touristique Haut Quercy, Martel, France
6008 Davenport 2597 SEK Δα63 Railway Museum of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
6013 Davenport 2602 SEK Δα59 Thessaloniki, Greece
6102 H.K. Porter 7682 SNCF 030.TU.13 Saint Pierre du Regard, France
6172 Vulcan 4542 SEK Δα60 Thessaloniki, Greece

USA class

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Former 30070 in preservation with Longmoor Military Railway livery

Four British examples of the USA class have been preserved:

Two JŽ class 62 locomotives built by the former Yugoslav Railways to foreign design have been acquired for use on the North Dorset Railway and given British liveries. There are minor technical differences.

  • *30075 (formerly 62-669 built 1960- (Undergoing overhaul)[26]
  • *30076 (formerly 62-521 built 1954- Stored).[26]

In fiction

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An engine of this prototype appears in the Thomas & Friends TV series as Rosie.[27]

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Bradley 1975, p. 66.
  2. ^ "Locomotives - Southeastern Railway Museum". Southeastern Railway Museum. 22 December 2016.
  3. ^ "PORTER 0-6-0T - Oklahoma Railway Museum". Oklahoma Railway Museum.
  4. ^ "Loc 4389 van Stichting Stoomtrein Goes Borsele". De Nederlanse Museummaterieel Database (in Dutch).
  5. ^ Hughes 1981, p. 57.
  6. ^ Cotterell 1984, pp. 71, 134.
  7. ^ Hughes 1981, p. 94.
  8. ^ "Image no. br670501". The Restoration & Archiving Trust. 2007. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008.
  9. ^ "Image no. br670322". The Restoration & Archiving Trust. 2007. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008.[failed verification]
  10. ^ a b c d e Longworth 2005.
  11. ^ "USA 0-6-0T". Southern Railway E-Group. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Yank Tanks in Southampton". 25 May 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2022 – via PressReader.
  13. ^ a b c d Ballantyne, Hugh (1985). Southern steam in colour. London: Jane's publishing company Ltd. p. 15. ISBN 0-7106-0336-3.
  14. ^ Tourret 1995, pp. 213–214.
  15. ^ Tourret 1995, p. 214.
  16. ^ a b c d Bradley 1975, p. 67.
  17. ^ Bradley 1975, p. 68.
  18. ^ Kidner 1993, p. 61.
  19. ^ Bradley 1975, p. 70.
  20. ^ Glasspool, David. "SR USA Class 0-6-0T". Kent Rail. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  21. ^ "SREmG".
  22. ^ "Home". Project 62. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  23. ^ "Project 62's Register of USA Class 62 0-6-0T Steam Locomotives". Project 62. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  24. ^ Walton, Nicholas (12 December 2006). "Britons rescue Bosnian steam train". BBC News. BBC News. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  25. ^ "New home for Bluebell Railway's USA Dock Tank steam locomotive". 8 June 2022.
  26. ^ a b "Home". Project 62. Archived from the original on 7 July 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  27. ^ "Rosie – Character Profile & Bio". Thomas & Friends - Official Website. Retrieved 26 August 2017.

Sources

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  • Bradley, D.L. (1975). Locomotives of the Southern Railway: Part 1. London: Railway Correspondence and Travel Society. ISBN 0-86093-593-0.
  • Cotterell, Paul (1984). The Railways of Palestine and Israel. Tourret Publishing. ISBN 0-905878-04-3.
  • Hughes, Hugh (1981). Middle East Railways. Continental Railway Circle. ISBN 0-9503469-7-7.
  • Kidner, R.W. (1993). Service Stock of the Southern Railway. Headington, Oxford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-429-6.
  • Longworth, Hugh (2005). British Railway Steam Locomotives: 1948-1968. Oxford: Oxford Publishing Company. ISBN 0-86093-593-0.
  • Russell, J. H. (1991). Pictorial Record of Southern Locomotives. Haynes (Oxford Publishing). ISBN 0-86093-443-8.
  • Tourret, R. (1995). Allied Military Locomotives of the Second World War. Abingdon, Oxon: Tourret Publishing. pp. 207–222. ISBN 0-905878-06-X.
  • Tourret, R. (1995). Allied Military Locomotives of the Second Works War. Abingdon, Oxon: Tourret Publishing. ISBN 0-905878-06-X.

Further reading

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  • Sprenger, J. Howard; Robertson, K.J.; Sprenger, C.C. (23 July 2004). The Story of the Southern USA Tanks. Southampton: KRB Publications. ISBN 978-0-9544859-3-1.
  • Ian Allan ABC of British Railways Locomotives. Winter 1959–1960.
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