Republic Steel locomotives roster
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I have long tried to get a roster of steam and diesel switchers that were in service at Alabama City/Gadsden Alabama at Republic Steel. I have seen lots of broad shots of the mill where you couldn¡¯t really tell much about the steam engines off in the distance. This week I got lucky and found four roster shots of three of the steam engines. They were stamped as official Republic Steel Gadsden pics. These were date stamped 1951. These are what appears to be a 2-8-0 numbered 300. An 0-8-0 304 and an 0-6-0 numbered 297. I have another pic in my collection of diesel 893 also an official Republic Gadsden pic and date stamped 1952. So Republic in Gadsden evidently diesalized early. I also have a Kodachrome slide dated 1963 of the still active 297 in service at Republic Steel Birmingham. I assume that Birmingham diesalized much later than Gadsden. Any information about Republic locomotives in Gadsden and Birmingham would be greatly appreciated. Also I have a question about one other locomotive that served in Gadsden. Prior to being purchased by Republic the mill was known as Gulf States Steel. I have a builder¡¯s pic of an 0-6-0 lettered Gulf States Steel and numbered 31. It has an older style headlight but more modern valve gears. Does anyone know anything about this GSS engine? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Warren D. Stephens CofG and TA&G nut |
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On Friday, September 9, 2022 at 07:40:41 PM CDT, arnoldeaves <aseaves@...> wrote:
Warren, Fascinating.? Thank you for digging out this information for us.? I wish I could help you but I don't have the steel mill background to find this info. I do have a friend who models the steel industry and I'll see if he might have a lead. Arnold > On 09/09/2022 6:30 PM Warren Stephens <wdstephens@...> wrote: > >? > I have long tried to get a roster of steam and diesel switchers that were in service at Alabama City/Gadsden Alabama at Republic Steel. I have seen lots of broad shots of the mill where you couldn¡¯t really tell much about the steam engines off in the distance. This week I got lucky and found four roster shots of three of the steam engines. They were stamped as official Republic Steel Gadsden pics. These were date stamped 1951. These are what appears to be a 2-8-0 numbered 300. An 0-8-0 304 and an 0-6-0 numbered 297. I have another pic in my collection of diesel 893 also an official Republic Gadsden pic and date stamped 1952. So Republic in Gadsden evidently diesalized early. I also have a Kodachrome slide dated 1963 of the still active 297 in service at Republic Steel Birmingham. I assume that Birmingham diesalized much later than Gadsden. Any information about Republic locomotives in Gadsden and Birmingham would be greatly appreciated. Also I have a question about one other locomotive that served in Gadsden. Prior to being purchased by Republic the mill was known as Gulf States Steel. I have a builder¡¯s pic of an 0-6-0 lettered Gulf States Steel and numbered 31. It has an older style headlight but more modern valve gears. Does anyone know anything about this GSS engine? Any help would be greatly appreciated. > > Warren D. Stephens > CofG and TA&G nut > > > |
Warren Stephens
