USATC S100 Class

The United States Army Transportation Corps (USATC) S100 Class is a class of 0-6-0 steam locomotive that was designed for use in Europe and North Africa during World War II for switching. Several were later used on railroads in Austria, Great Britain, France, Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia and even China and Iran.

Overview

In 1942 the USATC ordered 382 of the class from Davenport Locomotive Works of Iowa, H. K. Porter, Inc, of Pittsburgh and Vulcan Iron Works of Pennsylvania to a design by Col. Howard G. Hill. They were then shipped to Great Britain in 1943 and stored there awaiting the invasion of Mainland Europe. After D-Day, they were shipped to Europe.

After the war SNCF bought 77 and classified them as the SNCF 030TU Class. 15 were bought by the Southern Railway including one for spare parts, forming the SR USA Class. Austria had 10. 4 were sent to Italy. Several went to JZ (Yugoslav Railways), where they were known as JŽ Class 62, and they assembled some more in the 1950s. Chinese had around 20 engines, forming the Chinese State Railways XK2 Class.

Others found industrial use in Great Britain with the National Coal Board, Longmoor Military Railway, Austin Motors, etc.

Later influence

Several later designs were produced by European railways. JŽ added to their Class 62 by ordering several similar examples from Djuro Djakovic of Slavonski Brod, Croatia. These differed in minor details, but principally the use of plate frames instead of bar frames, resulting in a higher boiler pitch. This in turn leads to shoulder on the steam pipes (compared to a straight) and smaller domes, which have a flatter top.

The Poles built several TKh Ferrum locomotives of similar outline, though there are various differences such as the use of 2 domes instead of 3, driving onto the second axle instead of the third, different cab, etc.

The unsuccessful Great Western Railway (GWR) 1500 class also was inspired by the S100 in the use of outside cylinders and short wheelbase. Many S100s had been used by the GWR in South Wales during the war.

Preservation

Several of these locomotives survive around the world, some in working order. In Normandy (France), the "WD 6102" (SNCF 030 TU 13) is waiting some help to return in working order on the beautiful Caen-Flers line.

External links

* http://www.project62.supanet.com/USAlocohistory.htm
* http://www.gregoriou.itgo.com/custom4.html
* [http://www.semgonline.com/steam/usa_01.html Information on the Southern Railways locomotives]
* [http://membres.lycos.fr/depotvirtuel to discover the 030 TU 13 (WD6102)]