Southern Pacific Class P-8

Last updated
Southern Pacific Class P-8
Image from page 206 of "Railway and locomotive engineering - a practical journal of railway motive power and rolling stock" (1901) 2461.jpg
Southern Pacific P-8 No. 2461 when it rolled out of Baldwin
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works
Build date1921
Total produced15
Specifications
Configuration:
   Whyte 4-6-2
   UIC 2'C1'
Gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.73 in (1,854 mm)
Wheelbase 75.80 ft (23.10 m)
  Engine35.50 ft (10.82 m)
  Drivers13 ft (4.0 m)
Axle load 60,700 lb (27,500 kg)
Adhesive weight 180,000 lb (82,000 kg)
Loco weight297,800 lb (135,100 kg)
Tender weight160,800 lb (72,900 kg)
Total weight457,800 lb (207,700 kg)
Fuel type Oil
Fuel capacity4,000 US gal (15,000 L; 3,300 imp gal)
Water cap.12,000 US gal (45,000 L; 10,000 imp gal)
Firebox:
  Grate area70.40 sq ft (6.540 m2)
Boiler pressure210 psi (1.4 MPa)
Heating surface:
  Firebox283 sq ft (26.3 m2)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 25 in × 30 in (635 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures
Tractive effort 46,800 lbf (208.18 kN)
Factor of adh. 4.15
Career
Operators Southern Pacific Railroad
Class P-8
Numbers2461-2475
PreservedNos. 2467 and 2472
DispositionTwo preserved, remainder scrapped

The Southern Pacific Class P-8 was a class of 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotives that were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) for the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) in 1921.

Contents

History

Introduction, construction and revenue service

P-8 No. 2461 operating on the Southern Pacific Image from page 498 of "Railway mechanical engineer" (1916).jpg
P-8 No. 2461 operating on the Southern Pacific

In all, a total of 15 locomotives of what had become the Southern Pacific Class P-8 were ever constructed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1921 and they were all numbered 2461 through 2475. [1] [2] They were designed to be used on the Southern Pacific specifically for the Overland Route from Ogden, Utah, to Oakland, California. The P-8 locomotives had operated on the Overland Route until the larger, more powerful Mt-class of 4-8-2s were delivered in the late 1920s. Most of the P-8s were then transferred further west for service between Oakland, California and Sacramento, California, along with the demanding Peninsula Commute services between San Francisco, California and San Jose, California. [1]

Withdrawal of the class commenced in 1957 and concluded in 1958, and all but two were scrapped. [1]

Excursion star: No. 2475

On January 1, 1958, No. 2475 was pulled out of storage and fired up for an excursion train over Altamont Pass, after the excursion train finished, No. 2475 was retired again on May 21, 1958, moved to West Oakland and scrapped on March 25, 1959, at San Jose, California. [3] [4]

Preservation

Two locomotives have survived into preservation. [1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Dunscomb (1963) , p. 163
  2. Solomon (2005) , p. 27
  3. Halberstadt (2003) , p. 78-79
  4. Demoro (1979) , p. 142
  5. Luna (2005) , p. 66
  6. "Southern Pacific #2467". Niles Canyon Railway. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  7. Solomon (2009) , p. 121-122, 125
  8. Solomon (2013) , p. 123-127
  9. "SP 2472: Baldwin P-8 4-6-2". Golden Gate Railroad Museum. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  10. "Southern Pacific 4-6-2 2472 to Lead Excursions For First Time Since 2015". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. August 8, 2022.
  11. "Southern Pacific 2472 Excursion Canceled". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. August 24, 2022.

Bibliography

Further reading