Southern Pacific class AC-3

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Southern Pacific class AC-3
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Specifications
Gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.57 in (1,448 mm)
Adhesive weight 440,800 lb (199,900 kg)
Loco weight481,200 lb (218,300 kg)
Boiler pressure210 psi (1,400 kPa)
Feedwater heater 414-BL Worthington
Cylinder size 22 in × 30 in (559 mm × 762 mm) in dia × stroke
Performance figures
Tractive effort 90,940 lbf (404,500 N)
Career
Operators Southern Pacific Railroad
Class AC-3
Number in class20
Numbers4029 4048
Retired1946 1949
Disposition scrapped

Southern Pacific Railroad's AC-3 class of steam locomotive was the 3rd and last cab forward design based on the 2-8-8-2 wheel arrangement. All 20 locomotives in this class were rebuilds from MC-6 class locomotives originally built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1912 and 1913. The rebuilds all took place in the late 1920s at Southern Pacific's Sacramento shops.

After the rebuilds, these locomotives were used through World War II. The AC-3ś were used for long freight runs, and during World War II sometimes for passenger/troop cars. All of this class were scrapped soon after retirement.

The first to be retired from active service were numbers 4040 and 4045, both on October 21, 1946; the last was number 4032 on August 8, 1949.

Related Research Articles

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Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles and two trailing wheels on one axle. The 4-6-2 locomotive became almost globally known as a Pacific type.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2-8-0</span> Locomotive wheel arrangement

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Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles and two trailing wheels on one axle, usually in a trailing truck. This configuration of steam locomotive is most often referred to as a Mikado, frequently shortened to Mike.

Locomotive classification on the Pennsylvania Railroad took several forms. Early on, steam locomotives were given single-letter classes. As the 26 letters were quickly assigned, that scheme was abandoned for a more complex system. This was used for all of the PRR's steam locomotives, and — with the exception of the final type bought — all electric locomotives also used this scheme.

2-8-8-0 Articulated locomotive wheel arrangement

In the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, a 2-8-8-0 is a locomotive with a two-wheel leading truck, two sets of eight driving wheels, and no trailing truck.

SR West Country and Battle of Britain classes Class of 110 three-cylinder 4-6-2 locomotives

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton railway works</span>

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SR U class Class of 50 two-cylinder 2-6-0 locomotives

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NER Class S3</span>

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Southern Pacific 4460 Preserved SP GS-6 class 4-8-4 locomotive

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Southern Pacific class MM-2

Southern Pacific Company's MM-2 class of steam locomotives was Southern Pacific's (SP) only class of 2-6-6-2 locomotives ordered and built as oil-fired cab forward locomotives. They were built in 1911 as compound-expansion Mallet locomotives by Baldwin Locomotive Works and entered service on SP beginning September 19, 1911. By 1914, they had all been upgraded with an additional leading axle making them 4-6-6-2 locomotives, reclassified from MM-2 to AM-2. This was done to improve handling at speed. These locomotives were the predecessors of several other cab-forward engines, culminating in the AC-12 class cab forward locomotives built during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Pacific class MC-2</span>

Southern Pacific Railroad's MC-2 class of steam locomotives was the first class to be ordered by and built for Southern Pacific (SP) as cab forward locomotives. They were built in 1909 following the design of SP's MC-1 class built earlier that year. The success of this locomotive model led to the design and introduction of the AC class of 4-8-8-2 cab forward locomotives in the 1930s and 1940s.

Southern Pacific class AC-1

Southern Pacific Railroad's AC-1 class of cab forward steam locomotives consisted of locomotives rebuilt from MC-1 and MC-2 class locomotives that were originally built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1909. The MC-2 class was the first class of locomotives built and delivered to SP as cab forward locomotives in late 1909. The AC-1 class was the first of the successful AC series of cab forward locomotives that numbered nearly 200 in total on the SP. Southern Pacific No. 4002 was rebuilt in June 1923 as a Cab Forward.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Pacific class MC-4</span>

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Southern Pacific Railroad's AC-2 class of steam locomotives was the second in the AC series of cab forward locomotives built for Southern Pacific (SP). This class consisted of locomotives that were rebuilt from Baldwin-built SP MC-4 class locomotives by 1930.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Pacific class MC-6</span>

Southern Pacific Company's MC-6 class of steam locomotives is made up of two batches: the first consisting of 15 locomotives weighing 435,800 pounds built in 1912, the second consisting of 5 locomotives weighing 437,100 lb built in 1913. All of the locomotives were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works. This was the last class of 2-8-8-2 locomotives that Southern Pacific (SP) ordered as cab forward locomotives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SR Merchant Navy class</span> Class of 30 three-cylinder 4-6-2 locomotives

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Southern Pacific Company's AM-2 class of steam locomotives was Southern Pacific's (SP) only class of 4-6-6-2 locomotives ordered and built as cab forward locomotives. They were actually MM-2s that had been upgraded. MM-2s were built in 1911 by Baldwin Locomotive Works and entered service on SP beginning September 19, 1911. By 1914, they had all been upgraded with an additional leading axle making them 4-6-6-2 locomotives. They reclassified their MM-2 as AM-2. This was done to improve handling at speed. These locomotives were the predecessors of the AC-12 class cab forward locomotives built during World War II.

Double chimney

A double chimney is a form of chimney for a steam locomotive, where the conventional single opening is duplicated, together with the blastpipe beneath it. Although the internal openings form two circles, the outside appearance is as a single elongated oval.

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