NKP #765 and the Yellow Bell

I was told that they were built during the war and they got steel bells due to war restrictions. This was also true for the 759.

765 Build plate

Are you aware that in 1943, steel pennies were issued by the US Mint because of the shortage of brass?  This was the same deal for non-essential uses on steam locomotives.  Baldwin issued cast iron builders plates for a year or so, rather than brass, so did Altoona.  I have a cast iron J1A from 1943.  Alco had been using cast iron since the 1920's, anyway.  Lima frequently issued cast iron diamond builders plates for a time in 1943 and 1944 - but not continuously.  I have an original diamond from NKP 743 that is cast iron but also have an original from NKP 754 that is brass.  At least the second batch of NKP S-2's (755-769) were built with cast iron or steel bells.  This is the same one that was on the 765 in Lawton Park until she came out of the Park in the mid 70's and that is what she again carries today, the original "War Baby" bell. The NKP painted them yellow.

During 1979-1993 she carried a brass PRR GG-1 bell long since returned to the owner.

So...

NKP #759 and 763 both have cast bells?

And each was painted yellow?

And PM #1225 also, a cast bell, but never painted yellow?

/Mitch

NKP 759 had a cast iron bell also.  For her High Iron Co. service, the brass bell was borrowed from the 779 at Lima.  Afterwards, they were swapped back.  The 763 has a cast iron bell - always.  When I put the new "763" front number board and correct headlight on at Roanoke about 10 years ago - it was cast iron.  1225 has a brass bell and it did when it was on display at MSU.  Remember it was built in 1941 - before Pearl Harbor.

So then...

NKP #759 and NKP #763 had their factory cast bells both painted yellow in service?

/Mitch

Unless somebody has better info than me, all of the second order of NKP S-2 bells were cast iron.  The NKP painted all cast iron bells yellow.

The one on top I believe is the original design, and the bottom being the second...again...I believe.  The 753 had hers changed out at some point it appears.  

Chris

CWEX has it right.  The top photo of the 753 shows the original bracket.  SOME of the S-2's got the crude, fabricated bracket during one of the regular shoppings as shown in the bottom 753 photo.  In both cases the bell did not swing - an air ringer was used to ring the bell.

not to dispute your information, but two things were swaying me the other way.  it appears as if the number plate under the headlight on the yoke mounted bell looks to have the top part removed whereas the other photo shows it has that border piece at the top.

the other thing that i thought might have prompted the change, ... with the Mars light installed, the yoke mounted bell gives a lot better clearance between the two appliances for servicing.

after a while with the fixed bell mount, i wonder if sometime in its servicing history, the original bell mount was restored(?)

regardless, i do see the electrical connections, so appreciate the confirmation at least that both type mounts had mechanical clappers.

cheers...gary

Overland Flyer:  Don't be confused by the number plates.  What you see is simply a white-painted stripe around the border.  It is the same size and shape steel plate and it is simply flat.  There were variations on the NKP from shop to shop and roundhouse to roundhouse on white and silver/aluminum trim applied to number plates and driver tires.  The big Conneaut Shops liked white - the lesser Frankfort shops liked silver or aluminum trim. 

There were a few 5-sided number plates made as replacements such as the original 767 after her wreck at New Haven, IN around 1951.  By the time of retirement, there were several 5 sided number plates on some of the earlier S and S-1 class locomotives, also.  Presumably they were wreck replacements also.

Yeah that is the same number plate, just unpainted on the top.  As for the design variation there are 2 photos here of the 741, the first is from 1947 and the second is from 1957.  And I do believe the S-3's (770-779) were delivered with the simpler flat plate design.

 1947 showing the original yoke design

1957 showing the flat plate design

Chris