Pennsylvania Railroad class K29s

Last updated
K29s class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Builder Alco-Schenectady
Build date1911
Total produced1
Specifications
Configuration:
   Whyte 4-6-2
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) [1]
Driver dia.80 in (2,000 mm) [2]
Wheelbase:
  Engine
36 ft 5 in (11,100 mm) [1]
Loco weight317,550 lb (144,038 kg) [3]
Tender weight175,700 lb (79,696 kg) [1]
Total weight492,700 lb (223,485 kg)
Tender typeClass 80-P-83 [4]
Fuel typecoal [1]
Fuel capacity14 tons [4]
Water cap8,280 imp gal (37,600 l; 9,940 US gal)
Firebox typeRadial stay
  Firegrate area54 sq ft (5.0 m2)
Heating surface4,625 sq ft (430 m2) [1]
  Firebox253 sq ft (23.5 m2)
Valve gear Walschaerts [2]
Performance figures
Tractive effort 43,375 lbf (193 kN) [3]
Career
Operators Pennsylvania Railroad
Class K29s
Number in class1
Numbers3395
LocalePRR Pittsburgh Division, Pennsylvania, United States
Retired1929
DispositionScrapped in 1929

The Pennsylvania Railroad's class K29s comprised a single experimental 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive. Constructed by Alco-Schenectady, it was given road number 3395. Although only one demonstrator was constructed, the K29s would become the basis for the highly successful K4s Pacifics and L1s Mikados. The lone example spent most of its life on the PRR's Pittsburgh division main line and was retired around 1929. [4]

Contents

History

The sole K29s, PRR 3395, was constructed by the American Locomotive Company's Schenectady works in 1911 as a demonstrator engine for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The success of the single experimental K29s lead to the development of the equally successful K4s class Pacific and L1s class Mikado locomotives. [4] Despite its success, the K29s was one of only a handful of locomotives constructed by Alco Schenectady as the PRR preferred its own Altoona Works as well the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia for large scale locomotive production. [3] The sole K29s spent its entire operating life on the PRR's Pittsburg Division main line pulling limited passenger trains and being used as a helper engine. Rumors circulated stating the K29s was able to haul 13 full sized passenger cars unassisted on an uphill grade between Gallitzin, Pennsylvania and Altoona, Pennsylvania. By 1929 however, the K29s was stricken from the PRR's locomotive roster. [4]

Specifications

The K29s had six driving wheels measuring 80 inches (203 cm) in diameter each and a 36 feet 5 inches (11.10 m) total wheelbase. The total weight including engine and tender was 492,700 pounds (223,500 kg), while the engine alone weighed 317,550 pounds (144,040 kg). [1] The K29s used the Walschaerts valve gear, with 27 in × 28 in (686 mm × 711 mm) cylinders. [1] [2] The tractive effort was 43,375 pounds-force (193 kN). [3] It also had a total firebox heating surface of 4,625 square feet (429.7 m2) and a fire grate of 66.1 square feet (6.14 m2). [1] It was paired with a Class 80-P-83 tender that could carry 8,280 US gallons (31,300 l; 6,890 imp gal) of water and 14 tons of soft coal. [4] [1] The K29s had an unusually massive boiler for its time, measuring between 81.25 inches (2,064 mm) and 89 inches (2,300 mm) in diameter and 22 feet (6.7 m) in length from firebox to smokebox door. [4] [1] Most of the basic specifications can also be found on the succeeding K4s Pacifics, which was directly developed from the K29s. [5]

Related Research Articles

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Pennsylvania Railroad class M1

The M1 was a class of steam locomotive of the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR). It was a class of heavy mixed-traffic locomotives of the 4-8-2 "Mountain" arrangement, which uses four pairs of driving wheels with a four-wheel guiding truck in front for stability at speed and a two-wheel trailing truck to support the large firebox needed for sustained power. Although built for both passenger and freight work, they spent most of their service lives hauling heavy high-speed freight trains. Many PRR men counted the M1 class locomotives as the best steam locomotives the railroad ever owned.

4-4-4-4

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Pennsylvania Railroad class B6

The Pennsylvania Railroad's class B6 was its most successful class of switcher, or as the PRR termed them, "shifter". The PRR preferred the 0-6-0 wheel arrangement for larger switchers, whereas on other roads the 0-8-0 gained preference. The PRR used road locomotives, generally 2-8-0s, when larger power was required.

Pennsylvania Railroad class DD1

The Pennsylvania Railroad DD1 was a class of boxcab electric locomotives built by the Pennsylvania Railroad. The locomotives were developed as part of the railroad's New York Tunnel Extension, which built the original Pennsylvania Station in New York City and linked it to New Jersey via the North River Tunnels. The Pennsylvania built a total of 66 locomotives in its Altoona Works; they operated in semi-permanently coupled pairs. Westinghouse supplied the electrical equipment.

Pennsylvania Railroad class E2b comprised six experimental B-B electric locomotives built for the railroad by General Electric.

The Pennsylvania Railroad's class L6 comprised three electric locomotives of 2-8-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation. The intention was to build a whole class of freight boxcab locomotives using this design, but the displacement of class P5a to freight work after the introduction of the GG1 meant that there was little need for more electric freight locomotives.

Pennsylvania Railroad class AA1

The Pennsylvania Railroad's class AA1 comprised two experimental electric locomotives constructed in 1905 by the company's own Altoona Works with the assistance of Westinghouse. Intended as testbeds as the PRR began its electrification project, both locomotives remained service into the 1930s.

Pennsylvania Railroad class D16

Class D16 on the Pennsylvania Railroad was their final development of the 4-4-0 "American" type of steam locomotive. A total of 429 of these locomotives were built at the PRR's Juniata Shops, spread across five subclasses; some had 80 in (2,030 mm) diameter driving wheels for service in level territory, while others had 68 in (1,730 mm) drivers for mountainous terrain. In the pre-1895 scheme, these locomotives were second class L.

The class D15 of the Pennsylvania Railroad comprised a solitary Lindner-system cross compound steam locomotive of 4-4-0 "American" wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation. The sole locomotive was #1515, built in 1892 at the PRR's Altoona Shops, it had very British lines with a full-length footplate, splashers, a six-wheel tender, and large 84 in (2,134 mm) drivers.

Class E6 on the Pennsylvania Railroad was the final type of 4-4-2 "Atlantic" locomotive built by the railroad, and second only to the Milwaukee Road's streamlined class A in size, speed and power. Although quickly ceding top-flight trains to the larger K4s Pacifics, the E6 remained a popular locomotive on lesser services and some lasted to the end of steam on the PRR. One, #460, called the Lindbergh Engine, is preserved at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. It was moved indoors to begin preparations for restoration on March 17, 2010. On January 10, 2011, PRR #460 was moved to the museum's restoration shop for a two- to three-year project, estimated to cost $350,000. The engine is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Class D14 on the Pennsylvania Railroad was a type of steam locomotive with a 4-4-0 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation. They were originally designated class P in the PRR's pre-1895 classification scheme. Twenty-two locomotives were built at the PRR's Altoona Works ; six in 1893 with 78-inch (1,981 mm) driving wheels, and sixteen in 1894 with 80-inch (2,032 mm) drivers, classified D14a. Later, all sixteen class D14a were rebuilt to class D14b with 68-inch (1,727 mm) drivers for secondary service after they were replaced in top-flight express service, while three of the six class D14 were similarly rebuilt to class D14c.

Class D6 on the Pennsylvania Railroad was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotive. Nineteen were built by the PRR's Altoona Works between 1881–1883. They were equipped with 78-inch (1,981 mm) drivers. Seven were later converted to 72-inch (1,829 mm) drivers and classified D6a.

Pennsylvania Railroad class L1s

Class L1s on the Pennsylvania Railroad comprised 574 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotives constructed between 1914 and 1919 by the railroad's own Juniata Shops as well as the Baldwin Locomotive Works (205) and the Lima Locomotive Works (25). It was the largest class of 2-8-2 locomotives anywhere, although other railroads had more Mikados in total.

Class D7 on the Pennsylvania Railroad was a class of 4-4-0 steam locomotive. Fifty-eight were built by the PRR's Altoona Works between 1882–1891 with 68 in (1.73 m) drivers, while sixty-one of class D7a were constructed with 62 in (1.57 m) drivers.

Pennsylvania Railroad class D1

The Pennsylvania Railroad's steam locomotive class D1 comprised thirteen 4-4-0 locomotives for express passenger service, constructed at the railroad's own Altoona Works during 1868–1872. They were the first standardized class of locomotives on the railroad and shared many parts with other standard classes.

Pennsylvania Railroad class G5 United States historic place

The Pennsylvania Railroad G5s was a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotives built by the PRR's Juniata Shops in the mid-late 1920s. It was designed for passenger trains, particularly on commuter lines, and became a fixture on suburban railroads until the mid-1950s. The G5s was the largest and most powerful 4-6-0 locomotive, except for a single Southern Pacific 4-6-0 that outweighed it by 5500 lb.

Duplex locomotive

A duplex locomotive is a steam locomotive that divides the driving force on its wheels by using two pairs of cylinders rigidly mounted to a single locomotive frame; it is not an articulated locomotive. The concept was first used in France in 1863, but was particularly developed in the early 1930s by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the largest commercial builder of steam locomotives in North America, under the supervision of its then chief engineer, Ralph P. Johnson.

The Pennsylvania Railroad's no. 2512 was a single de Glehn Compound 4-4-2 "Atlantic" type locomotive that the railroad imported from France in 1904.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Wright, Roydon Vincent; Swift, Porter La Forrest (1912). Locomotive Dictionary: Definitions and Illustrations of American Locomotives, Their Parts and Equipment, Together with Typical Illustrations of Machine Tools and Devices Used in Their Maintenance and Repair. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company.
  2. 1 2 3 Test Department, Pennsylvania Railroad (1915). Locomotive Testing Plant at Altoona, Pa: Bulletins. Altoona, Pennsylvania. p. 5.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Staufer & Pennypacker 1962, p. 146.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Staufer & Pennypacker 1962, p. 144.
  5. Staufer & Pennypacker 1962, p. 159.

Further reading