USATC S160s

Enjoy it. It’s a cracking loco.

 

I really like the livery

 

Whats is 2253's preservation history? Its about the only UK based one I don't know much about.

 

It's ex PKP - as recorded by Wackypedia:
2253 Baldwin 69496 PKP Tr.203.208 Peter Best Stockton-on-Tees 6/6/2019 Full restoration completed by Steam Powered Services in Stockton. Renamed Omaha beach (shortened to Omaha.) honouring the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Currently based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Ray.

 

It's now left the NYMR. 2253 was only there for finishing off and running in. It is destined for the Torbay & Dartmouth Railway but its arrival there seems to keep slipping back.

 

How does a S160 compare to other locomotives of equal age and power?

 

In what way? Steaming rates, riding, haulage ability, maintenance, crew comfort.......?
Ray.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and, ergonomically it leave a good bit to be desired but 2253 steams well and is a strong, sure footed loco that accelerates quickly. At the moment, it is also 'tight' with no knocks and bangs. No doubt that will change as time and wear takes their toll. It's probably the only loco with a boxing glove, as well.....

...and it's a good idea!

 

Just a game:
You were CME of North Yorkshire Railway 1946 that was the only dollar- earning UK railroad and You were offered 5 almost new eigth or ten coupled locomotives from War surplus storage.
Free
How many S160 ,MOD 2-8-0,MOD 2-10-0 or 8Fs would You pick with thanks?

Had not seen the boxing glove,but still wonder.

 

I'd probably go for the 8F's. They weren't built just to last a couple of years. Having said that, I've no experience of them, or the WD 2-8-0's so it's just a subjective personal opinion.

 

Think if you had moderate curves and scope for faster running the Stanier 8f,
The s160 has a reputation for being unpleasant at speed but there is no doubt they are a strong engine and extremely compact - handy for sharp curves.
Probably no accident that there is only one Surviving MOD 2-8-0.

 

I'm sure if some had made Barry we would have more preserved.

 

.... and if Dai Woodham had moved the business to somewhere on the east coast of England in the early 1960s, we'd likely have a lot more ex-LNER locos in preservation. Ho-hum!

 

There was more scrap value in ex LNER locos.

 

I will, though she'll have to do something special to be better than 6046 (though I did pass my Cauldon firing exam on her, so I maybe biased...)

 

Performance wise, most people seem to say they are a Class 8F so that's WD 2-8-0, LMS 8F, GWR 28xx.

Personally I'd take a 28xx / S160 / 8F if I had the option. But that could alter should I ever get promoted to Driver, a 28xx might not be such an exciting prospect on a cold winter's morning. We're also quite lucky at CVR as Greg has performed a few mods to his pair of S160s to improve crew comforts, being more BR standard that USATC with some of the fittings. Though I'm still waiting for the fireman's cup holder to appear, he's only provided one on the driver's side to date!

 

I thought the fireman had no time for tea - there's a big firebox to keep filled !

 

At 41 sq ft virtually the same as an A4 (41¼ sq ft) Still plenty of time for tea, though.

 

Would have been nice to have one at the NYMR then,
Maybe kitted up and passed for Whitby and then maybe a turn on the Jacobites to find out /exploit their full potential...

 

I thought an A4 was much bigger than a S160. Though having said that I've only ever lit 60007 up (but have fired 60103). Cheers for the info!