What the? An RS4TC!
 

Well I've been poking around the East Tennessee Technology Park (K-25) here in Oak Ridge during work hours again and I just keep finding interesting stuff.

Security Note: Only pictures were taken and only footprints were left.:rolleyes:

I've posted a number of items on engines that the Southern Appalachian Railroad Museum has acquired. This time around I found another odd engine. The finding is a Baldwin 60 ton switcher designated as an RS4TC with a build date of 1954. Unit number 4026 was part of a series purchased by the US Army. Units 4001 - 4044 were designed for foreign use and had special axles that allowed the wheels to be easily moved to fit a variety of guages. At 39 ft 2.5 in, the foreign use units are slighly longer than the domestic counterparts (#'s 1247 - 1276). Additionally, the foreign units were equipped with an engine heater that allowed for operations in extremely low temperatures (-40 F).:eek:

Unit 4026 was known to be working at the Umatilla Army Chemical Depot in Oregon around 1994. Later through a dealer in Ohio this engine was purchased/transferred to the major contractor Fluor-Daniel-Fernald at the uranium enrichment plant at Fernald, Ohio. Its there that it picked up the reporting marks OFHX and the nickname of "Little Leah". I believe it arrived in the Oak Ridge area in April of this year.

Re: What the? An RS4TC!
 

Bruce,
Looks like its in a little bit better shape than the E-8. Do you think SARM is going to have the resources to restore all of these locomotives to operating condition? Have they begun contruction of a museum building/shop ?
- Andrew

Re: What the? An RS4TC!
 

The RS4TC looks to be in running or near running order.:confused:

As to SARMs ability to restore all of these units, they have been working to obtain donations and volunteer help. To date I don't know of their specific timetable to break ground on either their museum or the maintenance barn that will sit on the area they are currently using for outdoor repairs and such.

On the bright side they are saving numerous old southern regional engines from the scrap metal yards by obtaining these units. Some may never run again but just having the cosmetic restoration will be great additions to the museum.