Honorary Steam Yard Locomotive???

Classic Trains General Discussion
1

Dear Sirs,

Years ago Mr. David P. Morgan conveyed ‘Honorary Steam Locomotive’ Status on the Alco-GE PA Passenger Locomotive.

Would it be considered to Annoint “Honorary Steam YARD Locomotive” Status to the Humble-but-everywhere Alco-GE S2???

These Engines were, at Times, Older than the Roller Bearing Steam on the Passenger, and, lasted into the Eighties on Class One Roads.

Rattled and Churped and never gave up!!! Threw Sparks and Carbon Chips at Nite. Rode like Steam at Speed on Blunts, and had Tongue and Groove Wood Sheathing on Cab Interior.

Big Brass Throttle Handle that you could Hawk Right Out when Kicking Cars. Ideal in the Yard.

Wood Knobbed Reverser like Traction.

Check out this Ex NH 0601 on PC in 1977. Optional Horizontal Shutters.

Can you hear them Rattle???

http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/alco/s2/pc9851cf.jpg

2

When I saw the title of the post, the first thing I thought of was ALCO S-2!

I can still work on an S-1, which is nice, but it doesn’t have the same vibration and whine of the turbocharged S-2! Oh, to hear that sound again, hauling a heavy cut or kicking a few down the lead!

3

With all due respect to David P. Morgan, the title of “Honorary Steam Locomotive” was bestowed on the PA by George Hilton. It was done in Hilton’s review of “The Nickel Plate Story” by John Rehor.

4

For Honorable Mention in this category I would nominate the Fairbanks H10-44. Smoked like an oil-burner where the fireman was applying too much blower. They’d pull anything you could couple to them. And talk about comfortable steps for switching–the H10-44s even beat the GP9 (makes you wonder how the boys from Beloit could also design the steps on their road switchers).

5

Dear Sirs,

The good thing about Baldwin and the F-Ms were their Electricals, Westinghouse, at first. COULD Pull anything.

Never had the H-10-44, but had H-16-44 and the Train Master. These GE Equipped, but, still could PULL. Hoggers loved them on Work Trains. Good in the Yard, but ALL THOSE STEPS!!! and the Cabs were too Small. Heaters on Running Board usually Frozen. Cab Doors too Narrow and Opened against Hood.

Talk about SMOKE on a Cold Day, and the Snubber Explosions as Fuel Ignited and Burned at 30 Below. Just like Steam!!!

An H-16-44 just back from the Shops just Hummed and was Smooth Running. Lovely, but the Small Cab, all those Steps, Poor visibility.

Also had C-Lines w/ Westinghouse Gear. Talk about PULL! Good Engines, but not well thought out for Crew Comfort. Cab too Small, and GASSY!

Also used the Ss On the Road, and quite a Ride when Running as a Train with Train Orders and Caboose. Probably the BEST Unit Alco ever made.

The point is, Should the S2 be elected an ‘Honorary Steam Yard Locomotive?’

6

The S2 has my vote, and obviously has yours.

Any dissenting votes out there?

7

Dears Sirs,

Grew Up with mostly S2s on the Yard and the Hump. Some Yard Steam and lots on the Road. The S2s were everywhere. Also their Kin, the S3 and 4.

Later came the More Modern variants.

The H-10-44 is a good choice, but a F-M Running Smooth sounded too Precision to be “Steam” if one forgets their copious Smoke output.

Baldwins would be closest to “Steam”, but a different sound altogether, even with Turbo. Good Yard Engines, all!!!

EMC/D no Slouch in good Yard Power, but,also too smooth, and no histrionics.

An Alco S2 being Worked Hard in the Yard was something to behold.

8

Nice pic cdnlococo Never seen any of both. The pic is nice though.

9

I also think the S-2 should be a honorary steam locomotive. It sounds like it has more “personality” then an EMD switcher.Plus the curved edge on the top of the long hood gives it a “boiler” look.Cdnlococo,on another thread you said once you saw a Baldwin centercab near Chicago.I think the Elgin,Joliet & Eastern owned it and it was re-engined by EMD.Was there once a barge that hauled the entire train on lake Kootenay? Seems like I read about it once. Joe G.

10

The S2 gets my vote! I used to watch them at work on the Santa Fe.Even got a few cab rides. They were awesome to watch and hear!
[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

11

Dear Sirs,

Yes, CP did have a Barge Operation in British Columbia that took the Locomotive, Caboose and Train Up the Lake with a Tug.

When I Worked that Job, we Left Nelson, B.C. on Monday around 1300 West to the Junction at South Slocan, B.C.

Power then; CP 7109 or CP 7110. MLW S4 539 Switchers Equipped for Road Service by adding Extra FuelTanks on Running Boards ahead of Cab, a Cable Driven Speedometer Operating off a Small Wheel Riding on the R-4 Wheel, Electric Class Lamps on Front, and an Illuminated Number Board on Nose.

These Appliances made a Humble S A Road Switcher, but NOT a Roadswitcher.

On the Main, the Ss could REALLY move, as Downgrade West. Sadly, these ones did NOT have Blunts for the “Whole Meal Deal” Experience of a True S.

After leaving South Slocan it was Light Rail all the way to Slocan City, where there was a Saw Mill and a Two Track Barge Slip on Slocan Lake.

Ran as Work Extra on Train Orders North of South Slocan. NO Train Radios, and Quiet.

This part of the Trip was all Uphill, and Full Throttle all the way at about 12 MPH. At Nite Sparks and Red Carbon Chips flew from the Stack. Could NOT Run with the Left Front Door Open, as a ROAD Horn on Front of Cab below Visor, and just TOO LOUD.

The Barge Trip was Idyllic, altho’ Loading and Unloading same could be tense, as Wheels Passed thru Water in Dip onto Barge, and Barge Slanted as Loads moved On. NOT the place to be in the wrong Location if something Derailed at the Sharp Angle on Rails between Barge Slip and Barge.

As Conductor was a Drunk, he considered it Okay to Drink on “His” Caboose once Cast Off from Land, as on Barge, which did not Belong to CPR, thence he no longer on Company Property.

The Wheel House of the Tug a fine place to Ride, anyway.

12

Hi cdnlococo.Thanks for all the info about the barge operation.I think it would take a lot of skill to take a train down a grade on wet rails with no dynamic brakes.Years ago a shortline used Alco switchers on the old Erie Lackawanna mainline where I live.They could go fast with a short train.