Great Smoky Mountains Railroad No. 1702

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad No. 1702 is a 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotive built in September 1942 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, PA, originally for the U.S. Army Transportation Corporation, and part of their S160 class of 2-8-0 Consolidations, which were also built by Lima and ALCO between 1942 and 1945.
Originally intended for duty overseas in Great Britain, 1702 was first equipped with Euro link and hook. However, she never went overseas, and instead, she worked at the US Military Base at Fort Bragg, NC, near Fayetteville. In 1946, 1702 was refitted with Janney couplers, and she was then sold to the Warren & Saline River Railroad in Arkansas. It was during her time on the W&SR that she was converted from a coal burner to an oil burner. 1702 worked for the railroad until the railroad dieselized in 1961.
In 1964, 1702 was sold to the Reader Railroad, a tourist line in Arkansas. While being restored at the Reader, 1702 was given a cosmetic upgrade using parts from the Union Pacific, Texas & Pacific, Kansas City Southern, Cotton Belt, and the National Railways of Mexico. Following the restoration, 1702 entered service as the largest locomotive on the roster at the time. Shortly thereafter, 1702 was given a brand new cab and tender off of Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 2-8-2 No. 2662. 1702 had the honor of pulling the last regularly-scheduled mixed train in the United States until December 2, 1972 when the locomotive was put into storage. 
In 1985, 1702 was sold the Fremont & Elkhorn Valley Railroad, which leased a 17-mile section of track from the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. When the C&NW offered to sell the line to the little tourist railroad, 1702 was sold to Mr. Don Smeal in order for the F&EV to buy the section of the line. Mr. Smeal leased the locomotive to the F&EV until he sold 1702 to the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad in 1991.
Following the sale to the GSMR, 1702's smokestack was increased in height, the cab was widened, the bell mount was modified since the original bell mount was actually intended for boiler mounting and the position of it made hand-ringing difficult, the bell was changed from being air-rung to being hand-rung, the number plate was swapped for a Southern style number plate, a brass eagle was added above the headlight, and the sandbox was modified. All of this was done in an effort to make the locomotive look more "American". 1702 operated on the GSMR until 2004 when firebox issues sidelined the locomotive. 1702 remained in (outdoor) storage, partially disassembled, in Dillsboro, NC for some time. However, in April 2012, the GSMR received a $700,000 grant from the Swain County Board of Commissioners to restore 1702 back to operating condition. The money would also go towards the construction of a new steam shop in Dillsboro, NC and a brand new turntable in Bryson City, NC. Restoration work began in July 2014 and it was later completed by July 21, 2016. 1702 officially returned to the GSMR's active roster on July 26, 2016.
In 2022, 1702 received a new Southern-inspired paint job, its bell was converted back from being hang-rung to being air-rung, and it also received a new dual-beam headlight.
==Trivia==
*1702 has appeared in several film and television productions throughout her career. The most notable of which being the 1966 film "This Property Is Condemned", starring Robert Redford, Natalie Wood, and Charles Bronson. The locomotive also appeared in "Boxcar Bertha", as well as "The Sting" starring Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw, Eileen Brennan, Charles Burning, and Robert Earl Jones; and the Johnny Cash TV Special, "Ride That Train". She is also featured in the second episode of the first season of the popular 1980s television program, "Unsolved Mysteries", hosted by veteran actor Robert Stack.
*In 1972, while on the Reading Railroad, 1702 briefly carried an Illinois Central step-top 6-chime whistle.
*In 2003, the brass eagle was removed. 
**In 1998, No. 1702 wore a Southern Longbell 3-chime whistle (like those used on the Ps-4 class 4-6-2 Pacifics) until 2004.
**In 2016, the Ps-4 whistle was stolen by vandals and a new replica one from Rizzoli Locomotive Works was delivered to the GSMR in time for 1702's return to service.
**In 2020, the Rizzoli Ps-4 whistle was replaced by a replica Southern steptop 3-chime whistle, which was built by the GSMR workshop.
**In late 2022, 1702 was re-equipped with an ALCO 5-chime whistle.
**In 2023, 1702 was re-equipped with a shop-built 6-chime whistle. It was later switched out with an N&W Hooter whistle on August 19, 2023 and eventually given back the replica Southern steptop 3-chime whistle in late August 2023.
*During her first test run to Bryson City on July 22, 2016, 1702's number 4 axle overheated and the locomotive had to stop at Whittier for repairs. Sadly, 1702 then had to return to Dillsboro for further work. Luckily, the issue had been caught early, so little damage had been done and the number 4 drivers didn't have to be dropped. 1702's first successful test run was carried out on July 24, 2016 and she arrived in Bryson City to much fanfare.
*In 2017, her original pilot was replaced with a boiler tube pilot.
*In 2022, she was repainted in a new Southern Railway style livery with gold lettering and red highlights. Due to the new livery not being completely finished, the fireman's side of the cab was blank. The lettering was corrected with the lettering being yellow instead of gold, the font being changed, and the numbering on the cab being smaller. Additionally, the original single beam headlight was replaced with a new dual beam headlight. Also, 1702 had its bell converted back to being air-rung for the first time since the bell mount had been modified in the early 90s.
==See also==
*Gallery
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:2-8-0 steam locomotives
Category:Eight-coupled locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:American locomotives
Category:Locomotives featured in media
Category:Baldwin locomotives
Category:Built in 1942
Category:Locomotives
Category:American steam locomotives
Category:Restored locomotives
Category:Excursion locomotives
Category:United States Transportation Corps
Category:Preserved steam locomotives
Category:USATC S160 Class
Category:USATC
Category:Preserved locomotives
Category:Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
Category:2-8-0 locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives of the United States