Military train steam locomotive?

 

Military movements were handled by the railroads with their own power.  The US Army Transportation Corps did have their own locomotives for training purposes.

 

Rusty

You can use just about any era-appropriate motive power (and road name) you care to.  During the war years, in particular, anything and everything was used, as needed.

I have two military consists also.  One is a WWII era consist with MTH Shermans and hand made flats with Shermans as well as an MTH Troop Train Set.  I run it with WWII engines of the same era.  I also run it sometimes with 50s era turbines and a 60s to 80s era diesel (DDA40X).  My other consist is a modern military consist with MTH Abrams tanks, MTH military construction cars, and an MTH Military Schnabel.  I run this with the same engines.  I just have fun running.  Of course I am biased because I only collect WWII era steamers and 50s Turbines and diesels.  My latest engine is the 1960/80s DDA40X.

1) As answered by others, "Military Train" movements, i.e. train loads of military equipment, where handled by each respective railroads own motive power. That is still done today.

 

2) The Army Transportation Corps, had/has their own "railroad" in Fort Ustis, Va., which was & is used for training Army personnel in railroad operations, so that if the need arrises  the Army could operate foreign RRs in time of war. This was done during WWII.

 

3) The Army Transportation Corps, had MANY 2-8-0 steam locomotives manufactured to their specifications for use all over the world, during WWII.

To go along with HW's comments, I am looking at a copy of Army Technical Manual 55-201 entitled "Operation Inspection and Maintenance of Steam Locomotives and Locomotive Cranes" issued in January, 1957.

 

It is a rather comprehensive 358 page manual obviously addressing what its title states. This 9X6 inch paper bound booklet was printed by my grandfather's printing firm in Baltimore, MD. Over 95 % of his firm's business was done for the GPO

(government printing office) and since I worked for him for a number of years I was able to obtain a copy with a minor flaw on the cover which means the copy would not have met the high standards of those days and could have been rejected by the GPO.

 

Although not specifically stated, it is reasonably obvious the manual addresses issues that would have been relevant to the US Army consolidations.

Any USRA 2-8-2 should do.  

You have answered my questions to the tee.  Great information that I was not aware of.  Thank you.

 

I notice that outside of the Army Transportation Corps. some steam locomotives had.....U.S.A. on the side of the tender.  Were these military locomotives and if so......Army?

 

TEX

Steve

Yes, some Army locomotives wore the U.S.A. designation on their tenders.  Others had the full U.S. Army Transportation Corps designation including, in some cases, the USATC logo.

 

You may find this link particularly helpful:

 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.n...ocoList.aspx?id=usax

The U.S.A. stood for United States of America.  They were War Department locomotives, built during WWII to be exported to Europe to ease locomotive shortages.  Identical locomotives were built by Alco, Baldwin and Lima.

 

 

Rusty

As an N&W guy, my vote would be for an Unshrouded J.

 

Gilly

Ah, but does any manufacturer offer a HEAVY 2-8-2 in 3-Rail, that is scale?

Thanks Allan for the info and link.  Rusty and others I offer my thanks as well.  Info I did not know before.  I guess any locomotive I customize unless I use U.S.A. or Army Trans. Corps. logo would be "fantasy" category but I sure would like a OD green locomotive.....just seems right in some way.  Again thanks to all. 

 

Photo's of your military trains would be a plus.

 

TEX

Steve

ETS makes this which could work: http://www.ets-trains.com/detailzbozi.php?IDZbozi=822

Do it any way you care to, Steve!  It's your railroad and your hobby, and you can model anything you like in the way you want to.  The important thing is to make it relaxing and fun.  

Don't overlook: a war-time freight is a great excuse to run "foreign" power on your railroad.     The USRA didn't care what went where, as lonig as the trains were on time.

But to echo what Allan said: it's your railroad.  Do what you like.

How about a USRA 2-8-8-2 mallet?  MTH made a RailKing version.

I pull my Military (WWII) consist with my Big Boy or an FEF, they are appropriate for the time.

Fort Eustis, Va is the Headquarters for Army Transportation. When I was there in 1962, they were operating several  2-8-2 Mikados.

The US Navy had steam locomotives too. This one, built in 1941, still operates today.

 

USRA locomotives would have certainly pulled troop or ordinance trains.

 

The USRA took over operation of the railroads during WWI, that's when the USRA locomotives were built with the large U.S. on the tender and the railroad name in small lettering on the top of the coal bunker.  The practice was discontinued after the USRA returned control to the railroads.

 

One article I read stated that this was so the railroad name could be easily obscured in photo's to help obscure any potential information of the location of the train to the enemy.

 

Rusty 

Pennsy I1s and Q2s.

Probably more likely an M1a or M1b, assuming the original poster models the PRR.

 

Now, what if he is modeling the Santa Fe, or the New York Central, or the Union Pacific, or the Southern Pacific, or the Northern Pacific, or the CB&Q, or the,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,etc.

With respective tractive efforts of 96060 and 100800 lbs either could pull a M backwards with only 64550 lbs.  Plus my Pennsy library has photos of Pennsy's War Effort with Is, Qs and Js.

On the other hand, with troop trains it wasn't always about tractive effort! Many times horse power, i.e. speed was important.

U. S. Army 2-8-0 101 consolidation, a Korean war veteran resides at the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, WI.

As a youngster I remember double and triple headed PRR steamers pulling a train filed with tanks and other military vehicles hiballing it along the Pennsy Mainline about 20 miles east of Pittsburgh heading west.  It was probaly 1953.

 

Norm

U. S. Army #634 at Hanks Yard, Fort Eustis, VA, September 1952.  Matt

I agree with the suggestion of any large Pennsy steamer.  Grif Teller's WWII art work sure must have made Hitler look twice!