Project 62 "USA Day" - Swanage Railway 21st May 2006

At the invitation of the Swanage Railway Operations Department, members of Project 62 were privileged to have the opportunity to be provided with a full day of footplate access and rides over the entire length of the line on USA S160 "Big Jim" number 5197.

S160 number 5197, a visitor to the Swanage Railway from Cheddleton on the Churnet Valley Railway, is one of a series of 2-8-0 tender locomotives built for service in the US Army during World War II. 5197 was built in June 1945 by the Lima factory, one of three American manufacturers appointed to build this Class, ALCO and Baldwin being the other two producers.

Like the USA S100 0-6-0T locomotive on which 30075 is based, the bulk of the S160 of the series entered service in Europe via the UK. Indeed, some S160 locomotives saw extensive use on British metals during and just after the war hauling freight and troop trains, many ran between Exeter, Salisbury and Southampton. However, built right at the end of the war in Europe, S160 number 5197 was exported direct to the Far East and was active in China up to the mid 1990's.

Purchased for use on the Churnet Valley Railway in 1999, USA S160 number 5197 has recently undergone overhaul and looked particularly smart in US Army (the characters "U S A" on the tender stand for United States Army) livery. The multi-chime whistle and unusual appearence of the locomotive have certainly drawn attention whilst it has been based on the Swanage Railway before its return to Cheddleton scheduled for mid June 2006.

USA S160 5197 at Swanage Station

Another view from the tender end

Project 62 member John Dando about to leave on the 09h50 to Norden

Whilst later in the day, Maurice King prepares for departure also for Norden

5197 has a hot fire and steam ready for departure

The locomotive crew check injector action

Regulator and cab controls running off the manifold

  Front end detailing small smoke box door and compressor

Reverser, brake and massive fire doors

5197 leaving Swanage about to pass the signal box

All photos are copyright of Project 62 unless otherwise credited