USATC S160 - on the Polar Express

[Rob Pulham]

Chris and I saw our first steam loco since moving onto the Wensleydale branch today. Most unusually it was in the form of a USATC S160 which is actually prototypical for the line as they came through on troop trains during the war.

It's heading up this year's Christmas special on the Wensleydale Railway, The Polar Express. It came as quite a surprise to be honest because our neighbours had told us that in previous years that have run the Polar Express trains diesel hauled.

 

[Scale7JB]

Good fun engines those..

JB.

 

[Focalplane]

Good to see it in black livery. As an ‘onery (Texan) Yank I really like ‘em.

 

[Rob Pulham]

Good to see it in black livery. As an ‘onery (Texan) Yank I really like ‘em.

I must admit since seeing the one that was cosmetically restored at Locomotion a couple of years ago, they have grown on me.

There was one stored out of use on the NYMR at Grosmont for quite a few years, which I saw quite a bit, but I have to confess it didn't really spark much interest at the time.

 

[oldravendale]

There appear to be three (!) at the GCR Nottingham, but as that info is taken from Wikipedia....... Certainly there is one under restoration and apparently the others are providing spares. As I've not been there for many years I couldn't say whether this is accurate although I can confirm that one is being stripped for restoration at the moment.

Brian

 

[Lyndhurstman]

Nice. A very easy engine to drive and maintain. Everything to hand, and accessible. I do like them.

Cheers

Jan

 

[Scale7JB]

The S160 gala is back on again at the Churnet Valley in February..

JB.

 

[Rob Pulham]

Today I managed to film the down Polar Express in daylight

[media]

 

[Rob Pulham]

Hopefully you are not getting bored yet but I wanted to record the sound of it pulling up the hill before getting to us on the return journey so if you watch do be patient for a few moments