Locomotives

Switchers

Classes A-7 & As-11 — the yard switching locomotives at Pomona, operated by Danville Division crews under partial cost-sharing with the A&Y.

Pomona Yard Switchers

The A&Y's Pomona Yard in Greensboro required dedicated switching power around the clock — a "24-hour per day job" as one 1943 letter describes it. This work was handled by Southern Railway switchers for which the A&Y paid a partial rental at 7% per year. The engines remained on the Southern's books and were crewed by Danville Division personnel; they were not part of the standard lease fleet but appear in the A&Y records as an ongoing operating expense.

No. 1684 (Class A-7, 0-6-0) is a Pittsburgh-built switcher from 1904, valued at $13,200 per a November 1937 assessment with a rental of $44.11/month. It served the Pomona Yard through November 1942.

No. 1870 (Class As-11, 0-8-0) is a heavier Richmond-built switcher from 1924 — the Southern's 1800-series, a more modern and capable yard engine. Its presence in the A&Y delay reports through 1949 confirms a long tenure at Pomona.

Other switchers are noted in the correspondence, including Southern engines 637, 772, and 845 at various times. The 645 and 845, though technically K-class Consolidations, were also used in a yard capacity and are listed on the K & Ks class page.

Switcher Roster

Class A-7 wheel arrangement
0-6-0
Class As-11 wheel arrangement
0-8-0
Assignment
Pomona Yard, Greensboro
Crews
Southern Railway (Danville Division)
A&Y cost
Partial rental at 7%/year of valuation
#ClassWheelBuiltBuilderC/NRetiredNotes
1684A-70-6-01904Pittsburgh3024611/1942Pomona switcher; A&Y paid 7%/year; Danville Div crews; valued $13.2K, rental $44.11/mo (1937)
1870As-110-8-01924Richmond656997/19491800-series heavy switcher at Pomona; present in delay reports through 1949