U.S. Army Locos Preserved In Europe
Ex-U.S. Army Transportation Corps S100 #4389 photo by Hans Wiskerke | |
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Initially, the intend was to complete this overview of U.S. Army Locomotives Preserved In
Europe by June 6th D-Day, but that did not happen. It is presented now rather than wait
another eleven months. Please note that photographs do not exist nor permission to use them
is available for each locomotive identified in the below roster. Therefore an attempt has
been made to present at least one example of the different locomotive types. Like always your comments / corrections are welcomed. |
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| Steam
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0-6-0T (S-100) -- "Adaptability" is the one word that best describes
USATC's S100 Class of switching locomotives. The military agency purchased a total of 382 of
the small go-anywhere locomotive from three separate builders: Davenport Locomotive Works ,
H. K. Porter and Vulcan Iron Works. A short wheelbase enabled them to navigate tight curves
and narrow right-of-ways. They could also be converted easily from coal to oil operation.
Their numbers began arriving in Europe during 1943, and by WWII's end they were scattered
through-out the European continent. The S100's design was so successful that it was later
copied by several nations.  Hans Wiskerke photo |
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2-8-0 (S-160) -- While USATC's S100s were at one end of the locomotive
spectrum, its roster of eight-hundred S160 Class 2-8-0s was at the other end. The S160s were
powerful, economical to operate/maintain and capable of handling heavy freight volumes. They
came from the erecting halls of three major builders: Alco, Baldwin and Lima. Designed
specifically by USATC for freight service, the S160s' quick acceleration enabled them to also
haul troop and heavy hospital trains. In anticipation of the D-Day Landings, the S160s were
shipped to England in two 400-unit batches for storage. Many from the first group were placed
in service on British railways to handle burgeoning rail traffic and replace locomotives destroyed
during German bombing raids. A large number of post war S160s were assigned to the United Nations
Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) in 1947 to assist in the reconstruction of
other European nation railroads.
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 Alun Hughes photo at Keighley & Worth Valley Railroad on 14 June 2014 |
Baldwin 2-6-2T -- In addition to the small gas mechanical "trench"
locomotives (cited above) the American Expeditionary Force were supported by a number of
these narrow gauge 2-6-2Ts built during 1917 and 1918. Very little else is known about these
extraordinary locomotives. |
 Ex-Army 2-6-2T #5104 at Tacot de Lac, France -- Didier Duforest photo |
| Diesel
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GE 75-Ton Drop-cab -- USATC purchased ten 75-ton drop-cab locomotives
and all were shipped to France; it should be noted that these new units employed the same
machinery as an 80-tonner. The 75-tonners maintained a rigorous schedule, and they were
instrumental in keeping the allied war-machine advance supplied. The four-axle GEs stayed
long after the end of WWII to help with the rebuilding of the entire French rail network;
they were eventually transferred to French ownership. The few GE 75s that survive today
reside in museums or are privately owned.
 Ex-US Army #7228 at Sabers Ecomuseum in France (A.T. Gelber photo) |
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| GE 45-Ton Drop-cab -- GE's production of the this model was 91 units; more specifically the locomotives were 44-tonners with a drop-cab and externally mounted air-compressor boxes. In essence, they were a down-sized version of the above 75-tonner; only 47 units went to the U.S. Military. USATC purchased ten 45-ton drop-cabs and shipped them to France; these military locos were also known to have worked in Belgium and Germany. |  Rick Morgan photo collection |
Whitcomb 65DE19a -- Purportedly more than 160 of the four-axle
Whitcomb locomotive model were built for the U.S. Army to use in Europe, as well as Great
Britain. Only four of those 650-hp Whitcombs still exist in Europe today; two reside in
museums after decades of service on the Italian State Railway and two in the Netherlands.
The backstory on the two dutch units is intersting. For many years after WWII, none existed
in the lowland country. When it came time to document the country's railroad heritage, the
state went shopping and found two veteran 65-tonners to purchase, both from U.S. industrial
owners. The units underwent restoration and now reside in Dutch railroad museums.
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 Photo at Goes on 31 May 2019 -- Quintrix photo (Creative Commons SA 4.0) |
Baldwin Gas Mechanical -- When the American Expeditionary Force
(AEF) of 1917 went to France to fight during World War I, the "doughboys" were accompanied
by scores of this intriguing little locomotive. Built by Baldwin during the war years, the
small locomotive was gas driven. Its low silhouette made the locomotive ideal for military
trench warefare. Powered by a Ford engine, the narrow-gauge loco came in a 35 or 50-horsepower
version. Production stopped at 127 units, #USA 7000-7126.
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 50-hp BLW Gas Mechanical at Chaillevette, France -- Didier Duforest photo (Creative Commons) |
Roster
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| Country | Builder & Model | Military # | Serial # | Date | Location / Museum |
| France | GE 75-Ton | USATC 7228 | 27528 | 4/44 | To be cosmetically restored as #D4028 at the Sabers ecomuseum in the Landes | GE 75-Ton | USATC 7229 | 27529 | 4/44 | Stands idle at Saint Symphorienl in need of heavy restoration as $D4029 | GE 75-Ton | USATC 7233 | 75233 | 4/44 | Preserved by the Tourist Railway from Guitres to Marcenais. | GE 75-Ton | USATC 7236 | 75236 | 4/44 | Preserved by the Chemin de Fer Touristique du Rhin in Volgelsheim as #D4036; rebuilt with Baudoin engines | BLW Gas Mechanical | U.S. Army 7001 | 47126 | 1917 | Status uncertain. Exhibited at Tacot Des Lacs | BLW Gas Mechanical | U.S. Army ???? | 47821 | 1917 | Status uncertain. Exhibited at Chaillevette | BLW 2-6-2T | U.S. Army 5104 | 46828 | 1917 | Static exhibit; Tacot des Lacs Railway in Grez-sur-Loing, |
| Italy | Whitcomb 65DE19 | USA 1248 | 60249 | 1943 | Exhibited at La Spezia as #FS D143.3021; ex Ne120.026 < Military Railroad Service 1248 |
| Whitcomb 65DE19 | USA 1248 | 60240 | 1943 | Exhibited at Palermo as #FS D143.3045; ex Ne120.020 < Military Railroad Service 1242 | |
| Alco S160 | USA ?? | 71547 | -- | Exhibited at Savigliano as #FS 736.083 | |
| Alco S160 | USA ?? | 71579 | -- | Exhibited at Pietersa as #FS 736.114 | |
| Lima S160 | USA ?? | 8612 | -- | Exhibited at Milan as #FS 736.208 | |
| Netherlands | Whitcomb 65DE19a | USA 7989 | 60359 | 12/43 | Exhibited at Stoomtrein Goes Borsele (SGB) Heritage Railway, as Netherlands State railroad #620; ex Lehigh Cement Mason City IA |
| Whitcomb 65DE19a | USA 8147 | 60388 | 1943 | Exhibited at Veluwse Stoomtrein Maatschappij museum as Netherlands State railroad #2019; ex-Bethlehem Steel 66 | |
| Poland | Alco S160 | USA 5891 | 8739 | 1/45 | Exhibited at Jaworzym Slaska Railway Museum, as #PKP Tr203-451 |
| United Kingdom | Alco S160 | USA 1631 | 70272 | 1942 | Currently at Great Western Railway at Ruddington (awaiting major boiler overhaul) |
| Alco S160 | USA 2138 | 70620 | 1943 | Currently at Great Western Railway (as parts source) | |
| Baldwin S160 | USA 2253 | 69496 | 1943 | Worked with the LNER; currently at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway awaiting an overhaul. | |
| Alco S160 | USA 2364 | 69621 | 1943 | Currently at Great Western Railway (as parts source) | |
| Alco S160 | USA 3278 | 71533 | 1944 | Named the "Franklin D. Roosevelt"; currently at Swindon receiving a major boiler overhaul | |
| Lima S160 | USA 5197 | 8856 | 6/45 | Did not see service in Europe during WWII; ex-China #KD6.463 | |
| Alco S160 | USA 5820 | 8758 | 1/45 | Being overhauled at Keighley & Worth Valley Railroad; ex-PKP #Tr203-474 | |
| Baldwin S160 | USA 6046 | 72080 | 1945 | Operational at Bimingham Railway; ex-Hungarian State Railways #411.144 | |
* * * Credits * * *
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Credits:
Reference Sources:
Date: 1 July 2025 by R. Craig Rutherford |
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