Been gone for a while posting history on another train website that is dedicated to RR preservation: http://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33922 I've been researching the WW II activities of Whitcomb and have come across some never-before-published photographs: A member of the other forum had been helping to restore a 65-ton Whitcomb centercab ex-U.S. Army locomotive when visited by a WW II veteran of the Military Railway Service (MRS) who had operated these during the war over in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). This one had been destroyed and it appears that the cylinder head had been removed. These locomotives were running Buda diesel engines that quickly earned a reputation for cracking cylinder heads. This is from "The Yankee Boomer" a newsletter of the MRS in the ETO printed during the war: Note the need for Buda cylinder heads: I can share more WW II photos later. Steve
I might add that I have been doing further editing of the Wiki article for Whitcomb and adding citations of source material: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitcomb_Locomotive_Works Also, I will be doing my second Whitcomb display at the Rochelle Railroad Days: http://www.rochellerailroadpark.org/rrdays.html Last year we had about 2,500 - 3,000 visitors. Come on out and say hi ! Steve
Nice update Steve, I still think a book by you is in order ! It would make a great " made for TV " docu drama !!! Paul
I have started writing the book. I tried to get some funding from our museum but they are pretty tight on cash so until cash comes along the book is a work in progress. I still desperately need to get to California and the Whitcomb/Baldwin archives in Sacremento. Steve
You're not kidding. This is what I know of the photo posted by the person who sent it to me: And other information that he suplied: Steve
By the way, is there a process to make a custom avatar in this forum? I've done it in the other forum but haven't seen a way to do it here. Steve
What we do are custom avatars as a thank you for folks who become Supporters. We have a Staff person who can do art, if such is needed.
Since I'm currently not a supporter and I'm not particular to any railroad my desire for a Whitcomb avatar is not possible? This one that I created for the other forum is 80x80 - pretty small: It's a trivial matter so if it can't be done it's no big deal. Steve
http://www.griffincunningham.net/Griffin/MAIN/743rdphotos2.htm From the 743rd Railway Operating Battalion in WW II These USATC soldiers are sitting on a Whitcomb 65-ton centercab. I believe somewhere in Germany as other photos from where this one came from refers to German locations. BTW, I finally got a response from the London War Museum through my local librarian. Been searching for the 561 Whitcomb diesels that were stockpiled in England just prior to D-Day. Haven't found a photo of them though I have found a photo of Baldwin steam locomotives stockpiled in England. Over 1,000 were waiting for the Break-through and landing them on the beaches. A unique technical challenge that I shall post here. Steve
A HUGE THANK YOU to Paperkite and another TB member for these fantastic drawings from the MRS. These will be a fantastic addition to the Whitcomb display at our museum and the Railfair Days. I am in great debt to train forums and their members in helping me with this research. I couldn't do it without you guys. THANK YOU TRAIN BOARD FORUM ! Steve
Also a very alert member at RPN spotted this video and the only Whitcomb film footage that I know of from WW II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYxgqHsoBak If you go to the 23 min. 15 sec. mark there is footage taken from a moving train of war damage which I suspect is in Germany and the locomotive pulling the train is a Whitcomb 65-ton centercab. Steve
The footage preceeding that Whitcomb clip is fascinating. It shows just how much we have lost. More than just the railroads, but a way of life, such as close knit family and camaraderie.
You said a mouthful there Boxcab. I couldn't agree with you more. So sad what has become of us. Steve
Steve , If you go to 29.42 and 29.45 sec there is a shot of eng# 8001 Whitcomb pulling short consist..............
I believe that is an Alco unit. The MRS did have drawings of other diesels including GE and Alco. I'll post those and you can judge for yourself. Steve
I just won this on ebay and it arrived Thursday - from China! It was most likely published in the Spring of 1945 as it has merits dated January 1, 1945 but states that no units had entered Germany yet. No digitized copy is on the net so I can post here and make it available. Fascinating history. The photo on page 18 with the caption "Crew of the first train into Rome July 4, 1944" - I'm quite confident is a Whitcomb 65-ton centercab. No GE nor Alco diesels used by the MRS had front railings and walkways. Also note the photographs of the German "Big Hook" and "its dirty work". These are the only photographs that I have found of this. Steve
In the above photo are a pair of 65-ton Whitcombs. The above photo and caption came from an ebay dealer. I missed the auction but he was kind enough to scan it and the backside caption and email it to me. The small locomotives behind the Whitcomb are captured German diesels. The German engine is this model: http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/hb/kit_hb_82913.shtml The "S.C." behind T/Sgt Robert C. Dunn I believe stands for Signal Corps. I can't tell the difference between the 65-ton and 72-ton models and the "1228" number doesn't correlate to the USATC numbers of the drawings. Steve
