Great Western 60 Explained

Great Western 60
Bgcolor:000000
Color:F5F5F5
Powertype:Steam
Builder:American Locomotive Company
Serialnumber:69021
Builddate:August 1937
Rebuilddate:August 2012
Whytetype:2-8-0
Driverdiameter:510NaN0
Wheelbase:57.20 ft (engine and tender)
Weightondrivers:1415001NaN1
Locoweight:1610001NaN1
Tenderweight:1496001NaN1
Fueltype:Coal
Watercap:8000impgal
Cylindercount:Two, outside
Cylindersize:19x
Tractiveeffort:312872NaN2
Boilerpressure:2002NaN2
Factorofadhesion:4.52
Locobrakes:SA6
Trainbrakes:6ET
Operator:Great Western
Black River and Western Railroad
Locale:Colorado (original), New Jersey (Preserved)
Deliverydate:September 1937
Retiredate:1963
Restoredate:1965
Currentowner:Black River and Western Railroad
Disposition:Undergoing 1,472-day inspection and overhaul

Great Western 60 is a 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotive built in August 1937 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in Schenectady, New York. It currently operates on the Black River and Western Railroad (BR&W) in Ringoes, New Jersey It was one of two operating Great Western steam locomotives with No. 90 being the other one.

History

Revenue service

No. 60 originally operated on the Great Western Railroad (GW) in Colorado where it pulled sugar beet and molasses trains. During World War II, a smokebox extension was added to allow the use of poor quality coal because of war-time restrictions. In 1963, No. 60 was purchased by the newly formed short line Black River and Western Railroad for tourist excursion service. It pulled the first train out of Flemington in 1965.[1]

Black River and Western Railroad

During its tenure running on the Black River & Western, 60 has undergone several cosmetic changes through the years.[1] The current paint scheme resembles a mid-sized freight locomotive, with a graphite smokebox and black drivers.[1]

While No. 60 was bought by the Black River & Western in 1963, it has ventured off the railroad several times. In 1967, the locomotive ran excursions on the Long Island Railroad out of Jamaica, New York. It is rumored that she reached a speed of 55MPH with a 14-car long train during these trips. 60 also visited the Whippany Railway Museum in 1994 for a railroad festival alongside Susquehanna Railway's SY 2-8-2 No. 142.[2]

The locomotive was used as the primary motive power for the railroad when in service.[1] The locomotive was taken out of service in November 2000 for a mandatory 1,472-inspection required by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)[3] which took almost 12 years to complete. The locomotive returned to service in August 2012. The locomotive is in its 1472-Day Inspection as of November 2023.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Black River and Western #60, Highlighting New Jersey's Scenic Views | Steam Giants . 8 March 2022 .
  2. Web site: Black River & Western - Steve Barry. 2021-06-12. www.railroadphotographer.com. en.
  3. Web site: Federal Railroad Administration. 2021-06-12. railroads.dot.gov.
  4. Web site: Black River & Western Railroad Flemington, NJ. 2021-06-12. BR&W Railroad. en.