History of the Allan Herschell S-16

"1865 model" train

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          The Allan Herschell S-16, named the "1865" model, is a "steam outline" design developed by that company in late 1958 as a response to the popularity of the "Old West" in television shows and movies at the time. It was not live steam, but gave that look of "Americana" so popular with both youngsters and their parents. It utilized the same Wisconsin V-4 engine, transmission, fluid clutch and Blomberg style trucks as its popular older sister the G-16. Initially, sales were brisk with 9 trains sold in 1959 and 10 trains sold in both 1960 and in 1961. The trains were as dependable and easy to operate as the G-16, but had several "challenges" to overcome.

          Some of the challenges could be overcome by the Allan Herschell sales and marketing team of North Tonawanda, New York or their design and mechanical engineers; several other challenges were outside their control.

• Although the coaches were the same length as the G-16, the engine and tender combination was 9 feet longer than the G-16 and didn't fit in some of the pre-existing engine houses.
  
  
• No provision was made in the S-16 design to "doublehead" or double up the engines and thus parks with lengthy trains or significant elevation changes couldn't utilize the S-16. This problem was overcome with creativity at some parks such as Brackenridge in San Antonio, and Forest Park in Fort Worth where a "baggage" car which followed the tender was actually a powered car which worked in concert with the S-16 engine.
  
  
• The false drive wheel and false drive rod assemblies required constant lubrication and adjustment and a larger turning radius to be happy than the G-16. Realigning the track was not a viable option from a space or economic perspective in most parks. Some parks removed these assemblies completely or "gerry-rigged" the false drive wheels so that they hung statically inches above the rail instead of dealing with the constant maintenance issues. The latter was frequently the case at confined parks in the East and some park train enthusiasts have mistakenly thought they were designed that way by the Herschell Company.
  
  
• The initial few units were constructed with a tender coupler and footboard which were far too lengthy to allow the operator to reach any of several controls on the instrument panel when seated and operating the train; the throttle and brake levers were mounted on the tender and always within reach. This problem was corrected in later units. Also corrected in later units was the tendency of the false drive wheel assembly to cock and derail when backing.
  
  

June 1961 Catalog

"1865 Train" Specifications

          The S-16 was available with "western style" coaches which were a slightly modified version of the reliable G-16 coaches and were either right or left side loading or with "surrey style" coaches which were wider, loaded from both sides, had a roof for shade and the seat bottoms were higher making it easier for parents to get in and out...

          As stated earlier, sales of the S-16 were very encouraging in its first three years despite its challenges. In 1962, only 7 units were sold and that number fell farther to 2 units in 1963 and 3 units in 1964. By 1962, the shift of emphasis in park trains was on the larger gauge (24 inch), longer and wider cars and the ability to carry more passengers per trip. Allan Herschell was developing its S-24 "Iron Horse" model to do battle with the C.P. Huntington of Chance Industries and began marketing the "Iron Horse" in late 1962; construction began in 1963. Although S-16 trains were still technically available for order through 1970, the last one was sold in September of 1964. Only 41 of the trains were built during six years of production.

1961 Allan Herschell advertisement featuring the S-16

Early S-16 Allan Herschell advertisement