USATC Fort Eustis Railroad

[@RailPreserver2K]

One of these 2-8-0 locomotives is presently in service on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad and another is being restored by tvrm

[@KiAnimeStuffProduction]

MRS-1 #1820 that is shown in this video is preserved out at Campo, CA at PRSM.

[@rogerhuber3133]

When in the Navy I visited Ft. Eustis several times and got to see and ride the engines. They were always very friendly and cooperative. The engines have all been scattered around now but at least they are still here. The only S-160 left there is the 607 which is the one I got to fire a couple times on trips.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Lovely footage there. 3 S160 have been restored in running condition in the UK, I've had a ride behind one of them, very nice stack talk from these engines. One of the EMD MRS-1 made a tour trough Europe in 1950 to promote the EMD diesel electric drive system. It led to widespread use of EMD power units and traction equipment been used in locally built locomotives mainly, but not only in the Scandinavian countries, Belgium, Hungary and Spain. Ireland and Yugoslavia bought complete locomotives built in North America. Greece, Portugal and also Spain decided for Alco units, all built in North America as Alco/MLW didn't license the use of their prime movers and traction equipment.

[@fmnut]

At the time Spain bought the first DL500s, Alco wasn't licensing loco production, you are correct. However, CAF built DL500S models for RENFE. Euskalduna built 40 DL535 units for RENFE, some of which went to Portugal. Both were under Alco license. India and Australia also had Alco licensees.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

@@fmnut I knew of the licenses for the Indian and Australian markets, but didn't know about the license to Euskalduna, so thanks for that info. For EMD well known license holders were Nohab in Sweden and Anglo Franco Belge (AFB) and Bruggeoise Nivelles (BN) in Belgium One lesser known license holder for EMD in Europe was the German company Henschel, Locomotives I know they produced were 2 different classes for Egypt, Class 2050 for the Austrian railways ÖBB, the class ME for Denmark and a small series of 6 locomotives based on the G12 for a Dutch coal mining company, which later went to Dutch Railways (NS 2900) and subsequently to a mining company in Spain, these were the only EMD diesels ever to run in the Netherlands apart from Belgian cross border traffic.

[@TheBrandon40500]

1:22 Tennessee Central SW8 #52 Located in Nashville still runs to this very day.

[@K-Effect]

The tripleheader sounded amazing

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

There are several S-160 steam locomotives (2-8-0 type) in preservation. There’s estimated to be over 30 of the class still in existence, with a small handful of them in operation.

[@fmnut]

Yes, preserved S160 videos are where I got the sounds for this video.

[@RailfanDude610]

At video clip 1:13, I know that locomotive. It’s TVRM 610!

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

It is! Excellent catch.

[@RailfanDude610]

Thanks!

[@gravelydon7072]

I've ridden over some of that track on one of the RS4TCs that they had in 1987. Life member of the TC Museum there. And do appreciate the video. Much of the base trackage has been removed even since I was there.

[@geac9100]

I went through Officer Basic Course (OBC) in 1991 at Ft. Eustis and we didn't see any of this training. I know I saw an SW9 on one piece of track, it hadn't run in years. No buildings, nothing else. But the video was excellent.

[@fmnut]

Yes, by the end of the Cold War, railroads were no longer viewed as strategic assets. The complete takeover of an ally's or enemies' rail network is no longer contemplated, nor trained for. This change in strategic thinking led to a wholesale disposal of obsolete locomotives and other rail equipment in the early 90's, much to the benefit of rail museums and shortlines all over the country. There is still a bit of rail infrastructure in place at Ft. Eustis, but only for rail shipments on/off the base.

[@ikonseesmrno7300]

That is really cool! The Army must have run a steamer into the '70s for training, I'd think. If memory serves, Germany & South Africa still had steam roaming the rails for example. Also, I'm trying to picture an engineer telling my dad to run out there full speed & flag that crossing. Dad would have most likely responded, "do what now?". Lol!! He might have early on, but not after he got enough seniority behind him. :v) Is that big 6 axle diesel an MRS-1?

[@fmnut]

Yes, 2047 is an Alco MRS-1. The 1820 coupling to the train at the end of part 3 is an EMD MRS-1. Spotting feature is the peaked hood end on the EMD. Also, Eastern Europe still had a lot of steam in those years of the Cold War. A consideration for war planners facing off with the USSR. India and China also had steam and were potential areas of conflict.

[@Bob-qs8iu]

Would be okay to use a link to one of your videos (Adirondack NYC, Nov 1, 2013) for a railroad newsletter? BTW-really enjoy the videos!

[@fmnut]

Sure, no problem. Glad you enjoyed my channel.

[@BenBensonStudios]

Great footage!

[@TheTrainMasster]

Does anyone know the music in the first part?

[@fmnut]

Big Red 1 Theme from the Call of Duty video game.

[@TheTrainMasster]

Thanks Mate!

[@Shipwright1918]

If the Army still had all this (especially the steamers) I would've considered signing up a long time ago, though with my luck I probably would've been assigned elsewhere.

[@jeremyasher297]

0:32 and 0:49. Do any of you guys know where these consolidations are?

[@fmnut]

Here's a link to the fate of 611: locomotive.fandom.com/wiki/United_States_Army_No._611 As far as I can determine, 620 was scrapped.

[@jeremyasher297]

NO NO NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@OldIronVideo]

What's the number of the middle engine durring the triple header

[@fmnut]

611

[@OldIronVideo]

I've seen 612 and 610

[@RPModelRailroads]

Incredible footage and locomotives! Wow

[@wolfgangpfeilergartenbahnd6530]

Interesting video about the US Army locomotives

[@narcotic-uy8qj]

First comment score awesome footage do u have anymore of the south bend area ?

[@fmnut]

Working on a CSSB video.

[@jeremyasher297]

4:17. 2 of the consolidations are pushing a passenger train. At first I thought this tripleheader was a backwards doubleheader. But then I realized that the lead locomotive was up front. Silly me!

[@jeremyasher297]

Ok I was wrong. The lead locomotive was backing up with the other 2 engines. Then at 4:23, we see all 3 engines going forward.

[@jeremyasher297]

I mean 4:32.

[@jeremyasher297]

DANG IT!!!!! I KEEP GETTING EVERYTHING WRONG!!!

[@billevans7936]

Recall black locomotives near the commissary..way back when..

[@DanielPRails]

Would have been pretty awesome to say you were steam locomotive engineer for the Army. Cool!

[@kimrok1]

My friend was and at this camp around this time.