Inventory of the Whitcomb Locomotive Company Records
MS 99
CSRM Library and Archives staff
2nd edition
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
2020
Contributing Institution:
California State Railroad Museum Library & Archives
Title: Whitcomb Locomotive Company records
Creator:
Whitcomb Locomotive Company
Identifier/Call Number: MS 99
Physical Description:
300 Linear Feet
269 record cartons +14 card boxes + 12 filing cabinet drawers
Date (inclusive): 1906-1952
Abstract: The Whitcomb Locomotive Company Records include the
corporate records of the George D. Whitcomb Company from 1916-1931, the Whitcomb Locomotive Company from
1931 to 1940, and the Whitcomb Division of the Baldwin Locomotive Works from 1940 until 1950, when
Baldwin purchased the Lima-Hamilton Company and became Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton, until the Whitcomb
Locomotive Company name was retired in 1952. Material includes locomotive drawings, specifications,
photographs, manufacturing records, operations and parts manuals, and sales department records.
Language of Material:
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Contact Library Staff for details.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of the Baldwin - Lima - Hamilton Company, 1979.
Arrangement
These records have been arranged into the following series:
Series 1. Card Files
Series 2. Manufacturing Records
Series 3. Operating and Maintenance Manuals
Series 4. Specifications
Series 5. Photographs and Negatives
Series 6. Drawings
Series 7. Bills of Material Index Sheets and Drawings Lists
Series 8. Sales Department Records
Series 9. Vendor Files
Series 10. Whitcomb Renewal Parts Books
Corporate History
The Whitcomb Locomotive Company was a builder of gasoline and diesel powered industrial locomotives that
supplied companies around the world with a variety of configurations for moving cars within factory
environments.
The George D. Whitcomb Company was incorporated by George D. Whitcomb on May 6, 1896 in Illinois.
George's son George Card Whitcomb replaced George D. Whitcomb as General Manager in 1907, and after
George senior's death in 1914 he took over the company.
The company sold its first gas-mechanical locomotive in 1906. In October of 1914 Whitcomb introduced and
shipped its first electric storage battery locomotive. Its first gas-electric locomotive was
manufactured in 1928. Whitcomb introduced its first diesel-electric locomotive in 1929.
A friendship between Baldwin President Samuel L. Vauclain and Whitcomb President George Whitcomb led to
Baldwin taking a financial interest in the George D. Whitcomb Company. In 1927, Baldwin Locomotive Works
began representing Whitcomb in the sales division. Baldwin acquired a half-interest in Whitcomb stock in
1928. After suffering a downturn in orders during the Great Depression, Whitcomb lost control of the
company to Baldwin Locomotive Works. After declaring bankruptcy on behalf of Whitcomb in 1931, Baldwin
reorganized it as the Whitcomb Locomotive Company and operated it under that name until 1940. Starting
in 1934 the Baldwin Locomotive Works took over the sales, repair, and renewal parts business from the
Whitcomb Company.
In July 19, 1932, Whitcomb acquired the Milwaukee Locomotive Manufacture Company.
Whitcomb became a division of Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1940. During World War II, Whitcomb supplied
the United States Army Transportation Corps with diesel-electric switchers.
In December 4, 1950, Baldwin Locomotive Works bought the Lima-Hamilton Company and became the Baldwin –
Lima – Hamilton Corporation. Whitcomb construction facilities moved from Rochelle, Illinois to
Eddystone, Pennsylvania. BLH continued to use the Whitcomb name until December 1952.
Custodial History
This collection was donated by the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Company who kept the corporate records of the
Whitcomb Locomotive Company and the Sterling Engine Company at their manufacturing plant in Honey Brook,
Pennsylvania.
Additional Collection Guides
Scope and Contents
The Whitcomb Locomotive Company Records include the corporate records of the George D. Whitcomb Company
from 1916-1931, the Whitcomb Locomotive Company from 1931 to 1940, and the Whitcomb Division of the
Baldwin Locomotive Works from 1940 until 1950, when Baldwin purchased the Lima-Hamilton Company and
became Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton, until the Whitcomb Locomotive Company name was retired in 1952. Material
includes locomotive drawings, specifications, photographs, manufacturing records, operations and parts
manuals, and sales department records. They provide detailed information about every locomotive type
they manufactured, including detailed specifications of any modifications or parts purchased for every
locomotive they manufactured. There are records from their sales and manufacturing departments, and
photographs of some locomotives taken were routinely taken and appended to the sales orders after 1931.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to
publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the CSRM Library & Archives.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of the CSRM as the owner of the physical items and is not
intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the
reader.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Railroad Locomotives
Railroads--Photography--Locomotives
Baldwin locomotives
Whitcomb locomotives
Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton
Milwaukee Locomotive Manufacturing Company
Series 1: Card Files
1906-1953
Physical Description:
2.9 Linear Feet
14 card boxes
Physical Location: Statewide Museum Collections Center
I2.212.A1-A2
Arrangement
The CARD FILES are arranged into the following subseries:
Subseries 1. Serial numbers
Subseries 2. Product Sales Orders
Subseries 3. Locomotive types
Subseries 4. Orders received
Subseries 5. Orders shipped
Scope and Contents
The Whitcomb Locomotive Company, and later the Baldwin Locomotive Works, maintained card files to
record information about each locomotive ordered. The Card Files contain the following key
pieces of information:
Serial number: Whitcomb assigned a unique serial number (or construction number) to each
locomotive constructed. The serial number was also used to identify an accompanying bill of
material.
PSO number: In 1931, after taking over the Whitcomb Locomotive Company, Baldwin also assigned a
PSO (Product Sales Order) number to each order. The PSO number may refer to a single locomotive
or to a group of similar locomotives ordered at the same time.
Photograph number: Beginning in 1931, the cards may include the builder's photograph number.
Specification number: The format for specification numbers is ## - [locomotive type] - ##.
The locomotive types are:
Gasoline-mechanical
Electric storage battery
Electric trolley
Combined electric storage battery and electric trolley
Diesel-mechanical and diesel-hydraulic
Gasoline-electric
Diesel-electric
The cards may also contain other information about a specific locomotive such as the purchaser,
its location, date order was received, date order was shipped, purchase price, gauge,
dimensions, locomotive type, order cancellations, re-sale and returns for refurbishment.
The cards may also contain other information about a specific locomotive such as the purchaser,
its location, date order was received, date order was shipped, purchase price, gauge,
dimensions, locomotive type, order cancellations, re-sale and returns for refurbishment.
Subseries 1. Serial Numbers 1
Scope and Contents
Arranged by serial number. Includes purchaser, location, engine class and weight.
Specification numbers first appear with serial number 40001.
box
1
, Folder 1
Locomotives by serial number
Subseries 2. Product Sales Orders
Scope and Contents
Arranged by Product Sales Order number. Includes the PSO, purchaser, weight, class, and
sometimes the serial number and specification number.
box
1
Locomotives by product sales order numbers
Subseries 3. Locomotive Types
Scope and Contents
Arranged by locomotive type and then by serial number.
box
1
Gasoline-mechanical, 1-1299, 11300-13247 (1906-1948)
box
2
Gasoline-mechanical, 1-1299, 11300-13247 (1906-1948)
box
3
Gasoline-mechanical, 1-1299, 11300-13247 (1906-1948)
box
4
Gasoline-mechanical, 1-1299, 11300-13247 (1906-1948)
box
5
Gasoline-mechanical, 1-1299, 11300-13247 (1906-1948)
box
6
Gasoline-mechanical, 1-1299, 11300-13247 (1906-1948)
box
7
Gasoline-mechanical, 1-1299, 11300-13247 (1906-1948)
box
8
Gasoline-mechanical, 1-1299, 11300-13247 (1906-1948)
box
8
Electric storage battery, 1401-2081 (1914-1945)
box
9
Electric storage battery, 1401-2081 (1914-1945)
box
10
Electric storage battery, 1401-2081 (1914-1945)
box
10
Electric trolley, 20001-20046 (1922-1930)
box
10
Combined electric storage battery and electric trolley, 30001-30007 (1922-1924)
box
10
Diesel-mechanical and diesel-hydraulic, 40002-40743 (1929-1951)
box
11
Diesel-mechanical and diesel-hydraulic, 40002-40743 (1929-1951)
box
11
Gasoline-electric, 50001-50010 (1929-1935)
box
11
Diesel-electric, 60001-61197 (1936-1951)
box
12
Electric trolley, electric storage battery, gasoline-electric (Westinghouse),
80000-80594 (1942-1951)
box
12
Mack International Motor Truck Corp., gas mechanical and diesel-electric
locomotives (1936)
box
12
Motor cars, 100000-100013 (1946)
box
12
Milwaukee Locomotive Manufacturing Company locomotives, M 740 – M 981-W
(1933-1934)
box
12
Plymouth Locomotive Works, 615, 996 + miscellaneous (1925-1928)
box
12
Whitcomb Lehmer road shoulder finishing machines, 0200-0210 (1930-1931)
box
12
Miscellaneous cards relating to components [BOX 12]
Subseries 4. Orders Received
Scope and Contents
Arranged by manufacturer and the chronologically by the order date. Includes order number,
PSO number, purchaser, locomotive class, gauge, and price.
box
13
Whitcomb: February 1918 - February 1953
box
13
Westinghouse: 80007-80610, October 1942 – December 1952
Subseries 5. Orders Shipped
Scope and Contents
Arranged by manufacturer and then chronologically by the order date. Includes serial number,
purchaser, weight, wheel arrangement, locomotive type and price.
box
14
Whitcomb: January 1918 – December 1952
box
14
Westinghouse: July 1943 – December 1952
Series 2. Manufacturing Records
1914-1956
Physical Description:
79 Linear Feet
79 record cartons
Physical Location: Statewide Museum Collections Center: Boxes
1-27 I2.212.A3-A11 Boxes 28-58 I2.212.B1-B11 Boxes 59-79 I2.211.E5-311
Scope and Contents
These files, generated by the Manufacturing Department and the Engineering Department,
contain information about how each engine was built, and what modifications, if any, were
introduced. These files document repairs and rebuilds of Whitcomb locomotives and as well as
those built by other manufacturers such as Plymouth. The most important kinds of documents
found in the Manufacturing Records are:
A bill of material lists all parts used on the locomotive, including those ordered from other
manufacturers. Drawing numbers for Whitcomb parts are listed beside the part. These drawing
numbers are used to access the Whitcomb drawings in Series 4. Drawings.
This bill of material index also includes the name of the purchaser, the customer's order
number, gauge, wheel base, locomotive weight, class, serial number, engine make or model.
Memos and notes: Whitcomb used several forms for written communication: written orders (Form
12), repair orders (Form 28), stores requisition forms (Form 29) and supplementary shop
orders (Form 26). The Engineering Department used change orders (Form 112).
Correspondence: Correspondence between the manufacturing department and the customer was
usually conducted through the general manager. May include information about modifications,
repairs, and last-minute problems.
Inspection reports: The Engineering Department inspected each locomotive and recorded data on
an Inspection Report (Form 33). The earliest inspection report appears in a manufacturing
record file for gas-mechanical locomotive serial number 1000 in 1919. Inspection Reports may
include the customer's name, the locomotive number, weight, date, type, gauge, wheelbase,
and information about the engine, clutch, transmission, driving chains, wheels and axles,
sander mechanism, radiator, temperatures, brakes, headlights, battery and cables. May also
include the road number assigned by the purchaser of the locomotive.
Beginning in the 1930s, builder's photographs became part of the manufacturing record. There
were also Whitcomb and vendor's operating and maintenance manuals for each locomotive. These
items have been removed to Series 3 and Series 5.
Manufacturing records are arranged by locomotive type, then locomotive number. Several
locomotive repair orders are not attached to a locomotive number and therefore are kept at the
end of this series in box 80. Orders for one diesel electric locomotive and several diesel
mechanical engines that were cancelled were put back into stock, and these are kept in Box 80.
box 6
Nos. 1240-1299; 11,300-11,318
box 29
Serial Nos. 13,233-13,248
Electric storage battery:
Electric trolley and gasoline-electric:
box 35
Serial Nos. 20,001-20,046
Combination electric trolley and battery:
Diesel-mechanical and diesel-hydraulic:
Series 3: Operating and Maintenance Manuals
1936-1956
Physical Description:
70 Linear Feet
70 record cartons
Physical Location: Statewide Museum Collections Center: Boxes
1-33 I2.212.I1-I11 Boxes 34-63 I2.212.J1-J11 Boxes 64-69 I2.212.K1-K2
Scope and Contents
Whitcomb Locomotive Company included a locomotive manual with its orders. The manuals in this
collection range from 1936-1956. There are no earlier manuals in this collection. This series
includes manuals for most Whitcomb diesel electric locomotives manufactured between 1936 and
1956, a few late-era electric storage battery, gas mechanical and diesel mechanical / diesel
hydraulic ones. There are a few examples of Westinghouse manuals. A locomotive manual could
include an instruction book, a parts manual, repair instructions, and specifications. Diesel
electric manuals before World War II include a 20 page locomotive operating and maintenance
instructions, a parts list, and vendor instructions. Westinghouse engines included a 120 page
operating and maintenance manual. Arranged by locomotive number.
Series 4: Specifications
1906-1953
Physical Description:
8 Linear Feet
8 record cartons
Physical Location: Statewide Museum Collections Center:
I2.212.F8-F10
Scope and Contents
Specifications include information about the locomotive classes's performance and construction,
wheel arrrangement, materials and workmanship, the cooling system, battery, motors, generators
and controls, the car body, trucks, the cab, warning signals, lighting,safety appliances,
wiring, painting and lettering and propulsion. Includes printed specification sheets used to
make pamphlets for diesel electric locomotives from 1941-1950. These sheets are located at the
end of the series.
Arranged by locomotive type, weight in tonnes, and locomotive specification number, which can be
found in the manufacturing record for the locomotive or in the card files.
box 1
Specifications 10 DE 1 - 40 DE 25
box 2
Specifications 44 DE 1 - 55 DE 7
box 3
Specifications 60 DE 1 - 80 DE 24
box 4
Specifications 90 DE 1 - 9 DM 1
box 5
Specifications 9 DM 1 - 26 DM 1
box 6
Specifications 30 DM 1 - 10 GM 2A
box 7
Specifications 12 GM 2 - SH 4450-2
box 8
Specifications RS 4-5-1 - SU 4600
Physical Description:
8 Linear Feet
8 record cartons
box 8
Printed specification sheets for select diesel electric and diesel-mechanical
locomotives
Series 5: Photographs and Negatives
Physical Description:
5 Linear Feet
3 manuscript boxes, 4 record cartons
Physical Location: Statewide Museum Collections Center:
Photographs I2.212.F10-F11 Negatives I2.212.G11
Scope and Contents
This series includes builders and publicity photographs taken by Whitcomb to show the exterior of
a newly-built locomotive. Whitcomb began including a copy of these photographs in the
manufacturing records beginning in the mid-1930s. Many of the photographs and negatives were
part of a collection of primarily gasoline mechanical photographs collected by Henry A.
Rentschler, President of the Baldwin-Hamilton Company who purchased them from a retiree. There
are some negatives that match the prints and there are some negatives without prints. The
negative number can be found in the card files. The other source of photographs are the Whitocmb
manufacturing records. Photographs have been removed from the files.
Photographs are arranged by locomotive number where it is available. Builder's photographs where
the locomotive number is unknown are arranged alphabetically by purchaser.
Additional finding aids
Series 6: Drawings
1909-1956
Scope and Contents
Consult Series 2: Manufacturing records and Series 7: Bill of material and drawing lists to
locate the drawing numbers for each locomotive. The Whitcomb Locomotive Company general
arrangement and general assembly drawings in our collection are cataloged and can be found in
our technical drawings catalog at: https://csrm.andornot.com. Component parts are not cataloged,
but are arranged by drawing number.
Additional Finding Aids
Series 7: Bill of Material and Drawing Lists
1920-1956
Physical Description:
25 Linear Feet
25 record cartons
Scope and Contents
Whitcomb locomotives are very customized and include a variety of after-market parts. Locomotives
from the same class and weight will not usually have all of the same parts. The bills of
materials and drawing lists record the exact drawings used to create each engine. Each index is
divided by type of equipment and includes axles, air brake equipment, brake foundation,
drawgear, electrical equipment, main frame, miscellaneous, sanders, signal equipment and tools
and accessories. The general arrangement or general assembly drawing number is listed on the
front page of the bill of material index if available.
Bills of material are available in Series 2: Manufacturing Records and Series 8: Sales
Department.
Bills of material in this series are arranged in Purchase Sales Order (PSO) Number. Drawing lists
from 1953 to 1956 are arranged by Sales Order (SO) Number.
Series 8: Sales Department
1931-1954
Physical Description:
72 Linear Feet
72 record cartons
Physical Location: Statewide Msueum Collections Center: Boxes
1-28 I2.212.C1-C10 Boxes 29-61 I2.212.D1-D11 Boxes 62-72 I2.212.E1-E4
Scope and Contents
Sales Department records include customer correspondence and bills of material. They do not have
the information about exactly how the locomotive was built, operating manuals, or lists of
drawings used to build them that can be foundi in the manufacturing records do. Records
primarily cover diesel mechanical, diesel hydrualic, diesel electric and electric trolley
locomotives after 1942. There are a few boxes of gas mechanical sales records.
Arranged by locomotive number.
Series 9. Vendor files
Circa 1940-1960
Physical Description:
10 Linear Feet
10 record cartons
Physical Location: Statewide Museum Collections Center: I2.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by vendor name.
Scope and Contents
Whitcomb purchased many auxiliary parts when constructing its locomotives. Vendors files include
correspondence with the vendors about their products, detailed specifications of their
offerings, and discussion of any problems with the parts provided by the vendors.
box 1
The Adalat Manufacturing Co.
box 1
Adams and Westlake (Door locks and holders)
box 1
Adams and Westlake (Relay and Time Delay)
box 1
Adams and Westlake (Sales Orders)
box 1
Ajax-Consolidated Company
box 1
Allen-Bradley Industrial Control
box 1
American Blower Hydraulics CPLO
box 1
American Bosch Co. (Oil Purifiers)
box 1
American LA France (Fire Extinguisher)
box 2
Argentinian State Ry Trucks
box 2
Auth. Signaling Equipment
box 2
The Babcock & Wilcox Company
box 2
Batavia Metal Products Corporation
box 2
Black Mountain Corp. (Mine Cars)
box 3
Capitol Gear (Auto-Engine Works)
box 3
Caterpillar Model Drawings (D-311 - D-399)
box 4
Caterpillar Engine (D-318)
box 5
Caterpillar Tractor Co. (D-324 - 4600)
box 5
Caterpillar Company Sales Orders
box 5
Coach & Car Equipment Corp.
box 5
C.H. Wheeler Manufacturing
box 5
Chicago-Pneumatic Speed Recorders
box 5
Coordinated Transport (Draft gear and insulated wheels)
box 5
Cummin's Engines Co Drawings
box 5
Cummin's Diesel Engine Co.
box 6
Cummin's Diesel Engine Co. (Parts List)
box 6
The Electric Auto-Lite Company
box 6
Union Switch & Signal Company
box 7
Union Switch & Signal Company
box 8
Walker Charm Manufacturing
box 8
Westinghouse Air Brake Company
box 8
Westinghouse Electric Corp.
box 8
Westinghouse Quick Selector
box 8
Westinghouse E. T. & E. S. B.
box 9
Wheel Truing Brake Shoe Co.
box 9
Yates-American Machine Company
Series 10: Whitcomb Renewal Parts Books
1958-1961
Physical Description:
2 Linear Feet
2 record cartons
Scope and Contents
Renewal parts were provided by Baldin-Lima-Hamilton. Arranged chronologically by Baldwin sales
order number and date. Parts include bolts, bars, brackets, etc. Information includes part
description, part number, material specification, date issued, and date order.
