Rivarossi/Hornby HO scale U.S.A. S100 0-6-0 switcher

An American switcher designed by the United States military for use in Europe and Africa during World War II is the latest addition to Rivarossi’s HO scale offerings. Distributed in the United States by Hornby America, Rivarossi’s S100 0-6-0T tank switcher is accurately detailed and ready for yard or short line duty on Continental or American rails.

A war baby. The versatile Class S100 was built by Porter, Vulcan, and Davenport to be shipped overseas to move men and materiel in the war effort. The U.S. Army Transportation Corps ordered 382 class S100s, which were sent to England in 1943, then moved to continental Europe and North Africa after D-Day. The “Yankee Tank” proved a popular design, entering civilian service on numerous railroads after the war. A few are reported to still be in service today in eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Since it was made to run on foreign rails, the S100’s design is a mix of American and European features, such as round front cab windows and buffers front and rear. A distinctive spotting feature is the sloping top on the front third of the pannier-style water tanks.

I found an original builder’s diagram for the S100 locomotive online. For the most part, the model matches the diagram, including the major dimensions and the size and placement of details. The exception was the steam dome, which was about 6″ larger than the diagram. This may reflect a later modification to the prototype.

The model. Since the S100 was originally ­designed to be operated in Europe and Africa, the diagram shows the engine with link-and-pin couplers and ­European-style buffers. Rivarossi’s ­model represents an Americanized version, with no buffers, step pilots front and rear, and knuckle couplers.

The wire handrails, grab irons, and coupler cut levers are scale profile. The brass bell pivots in its mounting. The Walschaerts valve gear moves like the prototype. Only the back-up light on the diagram is missing from the model, but again, this could reflect a prototypical modification from the initial design.

The blackened metal wheels were in gauge, and the wheel diameter and wheelbase matched the numbers on the builder’s diagram. The Kadee-compatible magnetic knuckle couplers were likewise mounted at the correct height.

The model’s flywheel-equipped can motor and worm gear drive operated smoothly and quietly, crawling along at a pace too slow for our speedometer to measure at 2.5V. Its top speed of 73 scale mph was considerably faster than could be expected from a prototypical low-drivered 0-6-0 switcher.

The engine is not offered with Digital Command Control, but there’s a six-pin DCC socket and space for a compact decoder inside the boiler.

Despite its heritage as an export engine, Rivarossi’s HO scale S100 0-6-0T switcher would look right at home on an American logging, mining, or industrial short line.

Price: $219.99

Manufacturer
Rivarossi
Distributed by Hornby America
3900-C2 Industry Drive East
Fife, WA 98424
www.hornbyamerica.com

Era: 1942 to 1970s

Road names: United States Army Transportation Corps, Albemarle Paper Co., E.J. Lavino & Co., Granite Rock Co.

Features

• All-wheel electrical pickup
• Can motor with flywheel
• Cast-metal boiler
• DCC socket
• Directional light-emitting-diode headlight
• Knuckle couplers, at
• correct height
• RP-25-contour wheels,
• in gauge
• Weight: 5.1 ounces