Chesapeake and Ohio 614

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	4-8-4
• UIC	2′D2′ h2
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.	38 in (965 mm)
Driver dia.	74 in (1,880 mm)
Trailing dia.	42 in (1,067 mm) ; 44 in (1,118 mm) on last axle
Tender wheels	36 in (914 mm)
Minimum curve	20°
Length	112 ft 2+3⁄4 in (34.21 m)
Height	15 ft 8+1⁄2 in (4.79 m)
Axle load	71,700 lb (32,500 kilograms; 32.5 metric tons)
Adhesive weight	285,200 lb (129,400 kilograms; 129.4 metric tons)
Loco weight	482,200 lb (218,700 kilograms; 218.7 metric tons)
Tender weight	386,130 lb (175,150 kilograms; 175.15 metric tons)
Total weight	868,330 lb (393,870 kilograms; 393.87 metric tons)
Fuel type	Coal
Tender cap.	As built: 21,500 US gal (81,000 L; 17,900 imp gal) water; 50,000 lb (23,000 kilograms; 23 metric tons) coal; Current tender: 18,200 US gal (69,000 L; 15,200 imp gal) water; 100,000 lb (45,000 kilograms; 45 metric tons) coal,; Auxiliary tender: 31,800 US gal (120,000 L; 26,500 imp gal) water
Firebox:
• Grate area	100.3 sq ft (9.32 m2)
Boiler	100 in (2,540 mm)
Boiler pressure	255 lbf/in2 (1.76 MPa)
Superheater:;
• Type	Type E
• Heating area	2,058 sq ft (191.2 m2)
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	27.5 in × 30 in (698 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gear	Baker

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Lima Locomotive Works
Serial number	9306
Build date	June 1948
Rebuild date	1979–1980

Chesapeake & Ohio 614
Chesapeake & Ohio 614
	C&O No. 614 on display in 2012; Note: The locomotive is currently wearing a paint scheme for the cancelled Greenbrier Presidential Express
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Lima Locomotive Works
Serial number	9306
Build date	June 1948
Rebuild date	1979–1980
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	4-8-4
• UIC	2′D2′ h2
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.	38 in (965 mm)
Driver dia.	74 in (1,880 mm)
Trailing dia.	42 in (1,067 mm) ; 44 in (1,118 mm) on last axle
Tender wheels	36 in (914 mm)
Minimum curve	20°
Length	112 ft 2+3⁄4 in (34.21 m)
Height	15 ft 8+1⁄2 in (4.79 m)
Axle load	71,700 lb (32,500 kilograms; 32.5 metric tons)
Adhesive weight	285,200 lb (129,400 kilograms; 129.4 metric tons)
Loco weight	482,200 lb (218,700 kilograms; 218.7 metric tons)
Tender weight	386,130 lb (175,150 kilograms; 175.15 metric tons)
Total weight	868,330 lb (393,870 kilograms; 393.87 metric tons)
Fuel type	Coal
Tender cap.	As built: 21,500 US gal (81,000 L; 17,900 imp gal) water; 50,000 lb (23,000 kilograms; 23 metric tons) coal; Current tender: 18,200 US gal (69,000 L; 15,200 imp gal) water; 100,000 lb (45,000 kilograms; 45 metric tons) coal,; Auxiliary tender: 31,800 US gal (120,000 L; 26,500 imp gal) water
Firebox:
• Grate area	100.3 sq ft (9.32 m2)
Boiler	100 in (2,540 mm)
Boiler pressure	255 lbf/in2 (1.76 MPa)
Superheater:;
• Type	Type E
• Heating area	2,058 sq ft (191.2 m2)
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	27.5 in × 30 in (698 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gear	Baker
Maximum speed
Performance figures
Maximum speed	125 mph (201 km/h)
Power output	5,000 hp (3,700 kW)
Tractive effort	66,453 lbf (295.60 kN); w/Booster: 78,853 lbf (350.76 kN)
Factor of adh.	4.29
Operators
Career
Operators	Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Class	J-3-A
Number in class	5
Numbers	C&O 614; C&O 611; C&O 614-T;
Retired	1955 (revenue service); 1999 (excursion service)
Restored	1980
Current owner	Ross Rowland
Disposition	On static display, based in Clifton Forge, Virginia

Last updated January 31, 2024

Chesapeake & Ohio 614 is a class "J-3-A" 4-8-4 "Greenbrier" (Northern) type steam locomotive built in June 1948 by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (C&O) as a member of the J-3-A class. As one of the last commercially built steam locomotives in the United States, the locomotive was built with the primary purpose of hauling long, heavy, high speed express passenger trains for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway such as the George Washington and the Fast Flying Virginian. Retired from active service in the late 1950s, the 614 was preserved and placed on display at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Between 1979 and 1980, restoration work on the locomotive to operating condition took place and it was used for extensive mainline excursion service from the early 1980s until the late 1990s. Since 2011, the locomotive has been on display at the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge, Virginia.

History and revenue career

Most railroads called their 4-8-4s "Northerns", which is short for the railroad first using the 4-8-4 type, Northern Pacific Railroad. The workers of the C&O could not see naming these locomotives "Northerns" as the railroad was based in the southeast. The famous Greenbrier Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, a major resort on the C&O mainline, was the inspiration for the name "Greenbrier" applied to these 4-8-4s.^{[ citation needed ]}

The C&O had a total of 12 4-8-4s, with the first five numbered 600-604 built in 1935, with the designation J-3. In 1942, two more were ordered from Lima numbered 605–606. In 1948, the design changed slightly and the 610-614 were produced, with the J-3-A designation. No. 614 was originally retired in 1952, but three years later, it, as well as No. 610 were brought back into revenue service to pull heavy freight trains in favor of the upcoming freight traffic on most American railroads. While being brought back into service, however, No. 614 was renumbered to 611, since there was a power shortage on the C&O as to alleviate any confusion with some leased 4-8-4s from the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, one of which was also numbered 614. The original C&O 611 remained out of service.

After just one year of revenue freight service, No. 614 was retired again and it was placed in storage with a group of other C&O steam locomotives in the form of a ‘scrap line’ in front of the C&O diesel shops in Russell, Kentucky where it remained for almost two decades.

Excursion service

In 1975, No. 614, as well as 2-8-4 Kanawha No. 2705 and 2-6-6-2 No. 1309, were sent to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland and were cosmetically restored for static display.

During 1979, Ross Rowland traded Reading T1 No. 2101, which was previously damaged in a roundhouse fire, to the museum in exchange for the 614. She was restored over the next 18 months with a cost of $1.5 million. During the restoration, 614 was given an auxiliary tender, doubling her water capacity to 50,000 gallons. This allowed the 614 to run for longer times without having to refuel as much. The Chessie Safety Express was 614's first major run, bringing her a bit of spotlight in the process. After the successful system tour, 614 was kept in Hagerstown, Maryland until 1985. American Coal Enterprise was developing a modern steam locomotive to be used as an alternative to rising oil costs by burning coal, known as the ACE 3000 Project. The 614 was modified for better performance under the guidance of David Wardale, and fitted with testing equipment to measure the performance of the engine.^{[ citation needed ]} For several weeks in January and February 1985, 614 (now 614-T, symbolizing it as testing) hauled coal trains between Huntington and Hinton, West Virginia. The 614's fuel consumption costs were actually lower than most diesel locomotives operating at that time.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 1992, Rowland's vision of the 21st Century Limited was taking shape. To give the public an idea of the train, one side of 614 was decorated in a futuristic way with a blue streamlined shrouding and centered headlight. The 614 also came back to its former home at the B&O Railroad Museum for temporary display. In 1995, 614 was moved to the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad in New Hope, Pennsylvania for a complete overhaul. It was then used for a series of popular excursions between Hoboken, New Jersey and Port Jervis, New York in conjunction with New Jersey Transit (NJT) and co-sponsored by the Volunteer Railroaders Association between 1996 and 1998.^[3]

Current status

The 614 was required to pull 26 cars at 79 mph on some sections, and maintain speed up several hills. During this time, the 614 was equipped with cab signals, 26L brakes, speed control and an MU stand.^{[ citation needed ]} The 614 was moved to storage on the Reading and Northern Railroad in Port Clinton, Pennsylvania. In 2000, Rowland put the 614 up for auction at the NJT maintenance facility, but no buyers were interested. The locomotive is still maintained by Iron Horse Enterprises, the most recent servicing of the locomotive being in 2006.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 2010, discussions began between Rowland and Jim Justice, owner of the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia, and current governor of West Virginia. The resort owner had been interested in running steam-powered excursion trains from Greenbrier to Washington DC. To be known as the "Greenbrier Express", Justice planned to use steam and diesel power in the project, but would have needed cooperation from CSX Transportation, the Buckingham Branch Railroad and Amtrak. In January 2011, the 614 was moved to the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia for its Thoroughbreds of Steam exhibit. In May 2011, the 614 was again moved to the C&O Railway Heritage Center in Clifton Forge, Virginia. From there, it was repainted in preparation for display for the Greenbrier Presidential Express.

However, the Greenbrier Express project was cancelled in May 2012 due to lack of funding and capacity problems on the CSX portion of the route, where a lack of passing sidings makes it difficult for Eastbound trains to gain headway against the flow of Westbound empty coal trains.^{[ citation needed ]} The diesels and passenger cars were auctioned off and the 614 continues to sit on display at Clifton Forge. As of 2023, the 614 is still painted in the Greenbrier Presidential Express scheme.

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References

↑ quicktastic (July 3, 2008). Chessie 614 in Port Jervis. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
↑ "History of C&O 614". CO614.com.
↑ Barker, Olivia (October 10, 1998). "Trained in Elegance". The Journal News . White Plains, NY. p. C1. (continued): "Trained in Elegance". p. C6 – via Newspapers.com.

External links

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[1] quicktastic (July 3, 2008). Chessie 614 in Port Jervis. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.

[2] "History of C&O 614". CO614.com.

[3] Barker, Olivia (October 10, 1998). "Trained in Elegance". The Journal News . White Plains, NY. p. C1. (continued): "Trained in Elegance". p. C6 – via Newspapers.com.

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