Bachmann Trains – USRA 0-6-0 w/Smoke & Vanderbilt Tender – Erie #116 – HO Scale

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of specific history available for the USRA 0-6-0 Erie #116. These locomotives were workhorses, often shuffled around between yards and duties, making it difficult to track individual engine stories. However, I can tell you about the general history of the USRA 0-6-0 class and Erie Railroad, which might give you some context:

USRA 0-6-0 Locomotives:

• • Designed by the United States Railroad Administration (USRA) during World War I.
  • Aimed to standardize locomotive designs across the country’s railroads, which were temporarily under government control.
  • Over 1,700 USRA 0-6-0s were built by various manufacturers between 1918 and 1925.
  • Classified as “light switchers,” they were primarily used for yard switching and short-haul freight duties.
  • Known for their reliability, versatility, and long service lives.

Erie Railroad:

• • Founded in 1832, one of the oldest railroads in the United States.
  • Operated a vast network in the Northeast and Midwest, connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.
  • Known for its innovative practices, such as being the first major railroad to adopt diesel locomotives.
  • Merged with the Jersey Central Railroad in 1967 to form the Erie Lackawanna Railroad.
  • Eventually absorbed by Conrail in 1976.

While the specific history of Erie #116 is elusive, it’s likely she followed a similar path to many other USRA 0-6-0s. Built during or shortly after World War I, she would have spent her early years shuffling cars in various Erie Railroad yards. Over the next few decades, she might have hauled light freight trains on branch lines, worked in industrial settings, or even seen service in passenger transfer duties.

Without a specific engine number or any other identifying information, it’s impossible to pinpoint her exact movements and contributions. However, you can be sure that she was a vital part of the Erie Railroad’s operations for many years, playing a crucial role in moving freight and passengers across the country.

Here are some additional resources you might find helpful in learning more about USRA 0-6-0 locomotives and the Erie Railroad:

• The National Model Railroad Association: https://www.nmra.org/
• The Railroad Historical Society of America: https://rlhs.org/
• The Erie Lackawanna Railroad Historical Society: https://erielackhs.org/

I hope this information gives you a better understanding of the context and potential history of USRA 0-6-0 Erie #116, even though her individual story remains a mystery.