Wheeling Steel #6505 Project

Cameron Wolk · **Joined:** Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:34 pm **Posts:** 270

I'm currently trying to find some info on Wheeling Steel #6505, a Whitcomb 65 tonner on the property of the Benwood Steel plant. I've since had some talks with the property manager about preserving the unit and it appears that may soon become a reality. However neither does the owner nor anyone in the company know any significant history about the unit as of this moment. If any RYPN member is informed on the topic it would be very appreciated. Thank you,

Cameron

J3a-614 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 02, 2016 12:37 pm

About the only thing I can say is that it looks like a former military Whitcomb--but around here, that would be stating the obvious.

Cameron Wolk · **Joined:** Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:34 pm **Posts:** 270

J3a-614 wrote:

About the only thing I can say is that it looks like a former military Whitcomb--but around here, that would be stating the obvious.

Update:You are correct on that point, it is indeed a former army unit built around 1942 for service on the Trans-Iranian Railway.According to the owner the #6505 was subsequently sold to Wheeling Pittsburgh steel sometime in the early fifties and retired in 1979. Its been on the property for some while after and has been started up in the distant past. I'll double check on that those dates the next time I here back.

John T · **Joined:** Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:05 pm **Posts:** 1270

It looks like Wheeling had six ex-Army Whitcombs. All were 65 tonners and none were built in 1942. Three were built in October 1943 and three in early 1944.

Cameron Wolk · **Joined:** Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:34 pm **Posts:** 270

Doing some looking around it appears I have a date for 1944 but no month included. Does anyone happen to have some sort of record book detailing the Whitcomb orders from the army?

Dick_Morris · **Posted:** Tue Jul 26, 2016 5:39 am

6505 looks like it may the original USATC road number. (Maybe you already knew that.) I have found that USATC gave each manufacture a block of numbers for locomotives they produced in a given class. Whitcomb would have assigned USATC numbers from their block in the order (or pretty close to it) that they produced the locomotives. That might help narrow down the date. A USATC number from another manufacturer, even for the same design, wouldn't give any information on when a Whitcomb locomotive was produced.

David H. Hamley · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 3:07 pm **Posts:** 705

Incorrect. That was Wheeling Steel's road number, reflecting the loco's nominal weight of 65 tons. The various USATC series for locos of this type were the 7900s, 8100s, 8400s, and 8800s. The key bit of identity needed is the loco's Whitcomb serial, which would be in the 60000 series.

John T · **Joined:** Sun Sep 14, 2014 5:05 pm **Posts:** 1270

Here are the Wheeling Whitcombs built in 1944.

60364 1/1944 B-B Std 65DE19a 65 650hp
U S Army #8123
Wheeling Steel, Wheeling, W Va

60430 4/1944 B-B Std 65DE19a 65 650
U S Army #8424
USATC-Italy,Military Ry Service #1338
Wheeling Steel Co., Wheeling, W Va

60502 9/1944 B-B Std 65DE19a 65 650
U S Army #8496
Wheeling Steel, Benwood, W Va

They had three more army units built in late 1943 and one they bought new in 1949.

Cameron Wolk · **Joined:** Wed Sep 02, 2015 11:34 pm **Posts:** 270

In other prospects I'm also now looking for the I.D. of a certain caboose. Apparently this Chessie extended view caboose has been tucked under cover for some time and is well preserved both in and out. This is apart of the plan regarding the #6505 and I should be receiving some new info shortly.

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/571959/

http://www.railpictures.net/photo/571109/