Great Western 60
{{short description|Preserved American 2-8-0 locomotive}}
{{inline|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox locomotive
| name = Great Western 60
| bgcolor = 000000
| color = F5F5F5
| powertype = Steam
| image = File:Black River Railroad 60.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = BR&W No. 60 running light on September 18, 2016
| designer =
| builder = American Locomotive Company ({{small|Schenectady Works}})
| serialnumber = 69021
| buildmodel =
| builddate = August 1937
| rebuilddate = 1945
| totalproduction =
| whytetype = 2-8-0
| gauge = {{track gauge|ussg}}
| driverdiameter = {{convert|51|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| wheelbase = 57.20 ft (engine and tender)
| weightondrivers = {{convert|141500|lb|t|1|abbr=in}}
| locoweight = {{convert|161000|lb|t|1|abbr=in}}
| tenderweight = {{convert|149600|lb|t|1|abbr=in}}
| fueltype = Coal
| fuelcap = {{convert|12|LT}}
| watercap = {{convert|8000|impgal|abbr=on}}
| cylindercount = Two, outside
| cylindersize = {{convert|19|x|26|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| maxspeed =
| poweroutput =
| tractiveeffort = {{convert|31287|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}}
| boilerpressure = {{convert|200|lbf/in2|MPa|2|abbr=on}}
| factorofadhesion = 4.52
| locobrakes = SA6
| trainbrakes = 6ET
| safety =
| operator = Great Western Railway
Black River and Western Railroad
| operatorclass = 60
| numinclass =
| fleetnumbers = {{ubl|GW 60|BR&W 60}}
| officialname =
| nicknames =
| locale =
| deliverydate = September 1937
| firstrundate =
| lastrundate =
| retiredate = 1958
| restoredate = April 25, 1965
| currentowner = Black River and Western Railroad
| disposition = Undergoing 1,472-day inspection and overhaul
}}
Great Western 60 is a 60 class 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotive built in August 1937 by the American Locomotive Company's Schenectady Works 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 was built in August 1937 by the American Locomotive Company's Schenectady Locomotive Works, it originally operated on the Great Western Railroad (GW) in Colorado where it pulled sugar beet and molasses trains.{{Cite web|title=Georgetown & Western / Great Western 2-8-0 "Consolidation" Locomotives in the USA|url=https://www.steamlocomotive.com/locobase.php?country=USA&wheel=2-8-0&railroad=gw|access-date=January 2, 2025|website=www.steamlocomotive.com}} During World War II, a smokebox extension was added to allow the use of poor quality coal because of war-time restrictions, No. 60 would continue to work in revenue service until being retired in the late 1950s.{{cite web|url= https://www.blackriverrailroad.com/equipment-roster/|title=Locomotives|date=November 6, 2024}}
=Black River and Western Railroad=
In 1963, No. 60 was purchased by the newly formed short line Black River and Western Railroad for tourist excursion service. It made its first passenger test run on April 25, 1965 and pulled the first official excursion train out of Flemington on May 16, 1965.{{cite web|url=https://steamgiants.com/survivors/operating/black-river-and-western-60/|title=Black River and Western #60, Highlighting New Jersey's Scenic Views | Steam Giants|date=8 March 2022}}{{cite web|title=Black River & Western to mark 50 years|url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/black-river-western-to-mark-50-years/|first=Angela|last=Cotey|language=en|date=May 12, 2015|access-date=January 14, 2025}}{{cite web|title=History of the Black River & Western Railroad|url=http://www.brwrr.com/Trains/History%20of%20the%20Black%20River.htm|language=en|date=2002|access-date=January 15, 2025}} During its tenure running on the Black River & Western, 60 has undergone several cosmetic changes through the years. The current paint scheme resembles a mid-sized freight locomotive, with a graphite smokebox and black drivers.
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 New York, Susquehanna and Western 142.{{Cite web|title=Black River & Western - Steve Barry|url=https://www.railroadphotographer.com/Railroads/A-Railroad-Portfolio/Heritage-Railroading/Museums-and-Tourist-Railroads/Black-River-Western/i-3m6MXDX/|access-date=2021-06-12|website=www.railroadphotographer.com|language=en}}
The locomotive was used as the primary motive power for the railroad when in service. The locomotive was taken out of service in November 2000 for a mandatory 1,472-inspection required by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) which took almost twelve years to complete. The locomotive returned to service in August 2012. In November 2023, No. 60 was removed from service to undergo another FRA 1,472-day inspection and overhaul.{{Cite web|title=Equipment Roster|url= https://www.blackriverrailroad.com/steam|access-date=2021-06-12|website=BR&W Railroad|language=en}}
References
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{{Commons category}}
Category:Individual locomotives of the United States
Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1937
Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States
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