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vincentberkan — Franklin (my own character)
Published: 2016-01-28 21:15:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 1021; Favourites: 5; Downloads: 0
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Description
Here's another character that's part of the K&A fleet.Franklin:
(U.S. Army Transportation Corps #1727, 1942 - 1946)
(Knoxville & Asheville Railroad #287, 1946 - 1960)
(resold back to the Army as their #613, 1960 - 1973)
SPECIFICATIONS
Full Name: Corporal 1st Class Franklin Baldwin
Gender: Male
Builder: Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA
Date Built: 1942
Serial Number: 67561
Locomotive class: United States Army Transportation Corps. S160
Wheel Arrangement: 2-8-0 Consolidation
Driving Wheel Diameter: 4 feet, 9 inches
Cylinder Size: 19" x 26" inches
Boiler Pressure: 225 psi
Whistle: 6 inch Crosby 3 chime: Link
Weight: 80.5 (138.25 tons with tender)
Water Capacity: 6,500 gallons
Fuel Capacity: 10 tons of coal
Tractive Effort: 31,490 lbs.
Arrived on the K&A: 1946
Previous Owner and Number: United States Army #1727
Track Gauge: Standard, 4' 8 1/2" inches
Retired: 1960
Recommissioned: January 1995
Status: Operational
Traffic: local freight
Age: 77
Franklin was one of a few former U.S. Army steam locomotives that were sold to the K&A after the Second World War. He was rostered to haul freight on the line. He could also be seen pulling local passenger trains alongside Rufus. In 1960, Franklin was sold back to the U.S. Army and was sent over to a military base in England along the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway. He made several friends on the line, including Fowler, a wise old 7F (it is clear that all the 7Fs were wise).
During his time in England, he witnessed the effects of the Beeching Axe. He was under the ownership of the U.S. Army so he was safe, but his friends on British Railways weren't. In 1964, Fowler was withdrawn from service. In 1966, the S&DJR closed down and on Sunday, August 11th, 1968, the last steam engine on British Railways was withdrawn from service. With that, Franklin was transferred back to the U.S.A. where he worked on the Fort Eustis Military Railroad in Fort Eustis, Virginia.
When steam operations at the base ended in 1973, Franklin was sold to a locomotive dealer who rented him out to several shortlines, including the Crab Orchard & Egyptian Railroad (the last railroad in the United States to run steam). In 1980, he was sold to the Crab Orchard & Egyptian Railroad to assist Betty (CO&E #17). Though he was mostly used as back up, he did pull his weight with the workload. Although Betty did all the work. In 1986, Betty was bringing in a coal drag when her steam pipe collasped. She was then found unserviceable, making her the last steam locomotive in the United States of America to retire from revenue service. With that, Franklin was then sold off.
In 1993, his current owner found out that the K&A was being rebuilt and had Franklin rebuilt and restored. In early 1995, Franklin was sold back to the K&A for no less than $2,750.35. Franklin now works on the K&A hauling freight. He's a kind old war veteran with a mind full of common sense.
NOTES:
- Franklin is based on a USATC s160 class 2-8-0. These locomotives were built for the U.S. Army by several manufacturers from 1942 - 1946 and saw combat in Europe.
- By the end of the war, Franklin had reached the rank of Private First Class and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Purple Heart, the Medal of Honor, and the Silver Star.
- Franklin's whistle is a Grand Trunk Western 6 chime. Link
