Looking for information

[NW Mailing List]

All:
Were these the same class as the ones that were around Ft. Eutis in the
late '60s which (I think) includes the one at Crewe and the one in
Tennessee that Richard mentioned?
Charlie Long
Lynchburg

On Fri, Oct 19, 2018 at 8:09 AM NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <
nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

> Hi Rick,
>
>
>
> Thanks for the e-mail. Most of Europe except Iberia, Finland, Ireland were
> and remain standard gauge. The loading gauge varied and still varies. The
> UK has the most restrictive loading gauge. Our railways were built by
> parsimonious Victorians and there was little agreement on this particular
> key dimension. The GWR was built to a 7’0” track gauge but this was
> converted to the standard gauge in a very limited time in the late
> nineteenth century.
>
>
>
> There was also a proliferation  (now largely vanished ) of narrow gauge
> but the locos were not intended for these. The S120s  were viewed
> essentially as a quickly produced, robust and versatile work horse with a
> limited life expectation. A bit like Liberty ships and Lancaster bombers.
> There were some very similar locos delivered specifically to Belgium. They
> had distinguishing smoke deflectors. The French (SNCF) brought in a huge
> number of Liberator 2-8-2s with very rakish smoke deflectors. A huge
> contrast to the complex indigenous French compounds. The Liberators lasted
> until the end of steam in France and some are in preservation. I wish we
> had received a scaled down equivalent for use in Britain.
>
>
>
> I think some of these S120 locos made several Atlantic crossings. I need
> to check my sources on this.
>
>
>
> I hope this casts a little more light into dark corners.
>
>
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Phil
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* NW-Mailing-List [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] *On
> Behalf Of *NW Mailing List
> *Sent:* Thursday, October 18, 2018 5:40 PM
> *To:* NW Mailing List
> *Subject:* Re: Looking for information
>
>
>
> Phil,
>
> Thank you for the response.
>
> I am a bit ignorant regarding operations in the UK and the Continent.  Did
> Europe have a standard railroad gauge in the years prior to WWII?  I ask
> because you said that the locomotives brought over from The States have
> migrated all over Europe.  A standard gauge makes sense but that doesn't
> mean it happened.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Rick
> ------------------------------
>
> *From:* NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> on behalf of
> NW Mailing List via NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
> *Sent:* Thursday, October 18, 2018 9:34 AM
> *To:* 'NW Mailing List'
> *Cc:* NW Mailing List
> *Subject:* RE: Looking for information
>
>
>
> Good afternoon ,
>
>
>
> The loco was one of many produced by the major US builders for use on
> damaged lines. They were shipped to the UK and stored in huge secure dumps
> ahead of moving to main land Europe after D-Day. They were simple and
> effective. I think three had boiler explosions in the UK largely because
> they only had one water level gauge. The locos came as a shock to some of
> the train crew who used them on domestic freight services in the UK,
> particularly the roomy cab and ease of access to valve gear for lubrication
> and maintenance. There were mixed opinions about riding quality.
>
>
>
> They lasted quite a long while and several are in preservation and running
> order/restoration. They scattered across Europe as far as Greece,
> Yugoslavia and Austria. One was retained by the UK forces on their internal
> railway system. I believe some were sent to China and wound up in North
> Korea. I have no idea as to what happened to them. One was a temporary
> guest at the Mid-Hants Railway some years ago. It got a reputation for
> being noisy, particularly the whistle.
>
>
>
> Regards from this side of the pond.
>
>
>
> Phil Mortimer
>
>
>
> *From:* NW-Mailing-List [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] *On
> Behalf Of *NW Mailing List
> *Sent:* Thursday, October 18, 2018 1:36 PM
> *To:* nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org
> *Subject:* Looking for information
>
>
>
> I know that the Railroad Operation Battalions of WWII have been discussed
> here before.  I have a friend who is researching a relative (now
> passed) who served with the 720th Railroad Operation Battalion in France
> and later in Germany.  My friend recalls his relative talking about
> assisting in the liberation of a concentration camp in or near Germany near
> the end of the war.
>
> Any help the group could provide about the 720th operational area or
> exploits would be appreciated.  I have attached a couple of photos that my
> friend had that shows the type of equipment that the unit used.
>
> Many thanks.
>
>
>
> Rick Huddle
>
> Delaware, OH
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