Maine Central class O 4-6-0

Last updated
Maine Central class O
Type and origin
Reference: [1]
Power typeSteam
Builder
Build date1903–1923
Total produced40
Specifications
Configuration:
   Whyte 4-6-0
   UIC 2′C
Gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia. 33 in (838 mm)
Driver dia.63 in (1,600 mm)
Wheelbase 26 ft 5 in (8.05 m)
Length67 ft 9 in (20.65 m) including tender
Height14 ft 7+12 in (4.46 m)
Loco weight172,000 lb (78.0 tonnes)
Total weight287,000 lb (130.2 tonnes)
Fuel typeCoal
Cylinders Two
Cylinder size 21 in × 26 in (533 mm × 660 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort 31,000 lbf (137.9 kN)
Career
Retired1949-1953
DispositionAll Scrapped

Maine Central Railroad Class O locomotives were originally intended for heavy freight service. They were of 4-6-0 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or "2'C" in UIC classification. They replaced earlier class P 2-6-0 locomotives beginning in 1903. They were in turn replaced by class W 2-8-0 locomotives for the heaviest freight service beginning in 1910, but remained in use on branch line trains until replaced by diesel locomotives after World War II. They proved so well-suited for branch line service the design was among the last steam locomotives built for the Maine Central. [1]

Contents

Original class O

Class O locomotives were numbered from 351 to 390 as delivered. The first were built in 1903 at the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) plant at Schenectady, New York with builders numbers 27657-27659 and 29029–29030. Builders numbers 30323-30326 and 38170-38173 followed in 1905. Schenectady-built locomotives were equipped with Stephenson valve gear. [2]

Sub-class O-1

Builders numbers 40576-40579 and 41235-41239 were assembled with Walschaerts valve gear in ALCO's Rhode Island plant in 1906. [1]

Sub-class O-2

Baldwin Locomotive Works built locomotives 373 through 382 with Walschaerts valve gear and weighing 8,000 lb (3.6 tonnes) more than the ALCO design. Builders numbers 32267, 32268, 32304, and 32344 were delivered in 1907; and 32395, 32428, 32566, 32575, 32644, and 32675 arrived in 1908. [2]

Sub-class O-4

Lima Locomotive Works built locomotives 383 through 390 with Baker valve gear in 1923. Builders numbers 6482 through 6489 were about the same weight as the Baldwin engines. The earlier engines had been equipped with short tenders suitable for branch line turntables. The Lima engines had a longer tender with capacity for 15 tons of coal and 6,500 US gal (25 m3) of water. Older O class engines received larger tenders when larger locomotives were scrapped. Baldwin Locomotives 374 and 379 received tenders from class X Mallet locomotives. Locomotives with larger tenders were often used as helper engines. [2]

Replacement

When the Maine Central began purchasing diesel locomotives, switchers intended for branch line use were numbered in the 300 series reserved for the O class. EMD SW7s and SW9s were numbered 331 through 335; and ALCO S-2s and S-4s were numbered 301-303 and 311–317. [3]

Big O passenger locomotives

Sub-class O-3 locomotives numbered 401 through 412 are not included in the infobox totals.

Although they shared the 4-6-0 wheel arrangement, the number sequence reveals a different use. These were main line passenger engines built for Maine Central during the period of United States Railroad Administration (USRA) control.

USRA authorised construction of a non-standard 4-6-0, because Maine Central C class 4-6-2s were smaller than USRA Light Pacifics.

ALCO completed builders numbers 59050 through 59057 in 1918, and 62051 through 62054 in 1920. These 206,500 lb (93.7 tonnes) locomotives used 190 lbf/in2 (1.31 MPa) steam in 22 in × 28 in (559 mm × 711 mm) cylinders, through 67 in (1,702 mm) drivers to achieve 32,700 lbf (145.5 kN) tractive effort. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Locomotive Company</span> Defunct locomotive manufacturer

The American Locomotive Company was an American manufacturer of locomotives, diesel generators, steel, and tanks that operated from 1901 to 1969. The company was formed by the merger of seven smaller locomotive manufacturers and Schenectady Locomotive Engine Manufactory of Schenectady, New York. A subsidiary, American Locomotive Automobile Company, designed and manufactured automobiles under the Alco brand from 1905 to 1913. ALCO also produced nuclear reactors from 1954 to 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baldwin Locomotive Works</span> American manufacturer of railroad locomotives from 1825 to 1956

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4-6-2</span> Locomotive wheel arrangement

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 after a New Zealand locomotive that was shipped across the Pacific Ocean.

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-10-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels, ten powered and coupled driving wheels, and two trailing wheels. In the United States of America and elsewhere the 2-10-2 is known as the Santa Fe type, after the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway that first used the type in 1903.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">4-4-4-4</span> Duplex locomotive wheel arrangement

A 4-4-4-4 steam locomotive, in the Whyte notation for describing locomotive wheel arrangements, has a four-wheel leading truck, two sets of four driving wheels, and a four-wheel trailing truck. While it would be possible to make an articulated locomotive of this arrangement, the only 4-4-4-4s ever built were duplex locomotives—with two sets of cylinders driving two sets of driven wheels in one rigid frame, essentially a 4-8-4 with divided drive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2-6-6-2</span> Articulated locomotive wheel arrangement

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, a 2-6-6-2 is a locomotive with one pair of unpowered leading wheels, followed by two sets of three pairs of powered driving wheels and one pair of trailing wheels. The wheel arrangement was principally used on Mallet-type articulated locomotives, although some tank locomotive examples were also built. A Garratt locomotive or Golwé locomotive with the same wheel arrangement is designated 2-6-0+0-6-2 since both engine units are pivoting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2-6-6-0</span> Articulated locomotive wheel arrangement

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, 2-6-6-0 is a locomotive with one pair of unpowered leading wheels, followed by two sets of three pairs of powered driving wheels and no trailing wheels. The wheel arrangement was principally used on Mallet-type articulated locomotives. Some tank locomotive examples were also built, for which various suffixes to indicate the type of tank would be added to the wheel arrangement, for example 2-6-6-0T for an engine with side-tanks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NZR A class (1906)</span>

The NZR A class were a class of steam locomotives built in 1906 with a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement for the New Zealand Railways Department (NZR). The class should not be confused with the older and more obscure A class of 1873. They were designed by the NZR's Chief Mechanical Engineer, A. L. Beattie and his Chief Draughtsman, G. A. Pearson to replace less powerful locomotives struggling with increasing loads on the South Island Main Trunk Railway, and in anticipation of the traffic volumes that would be created upon the completion of the North Island Main Trunk railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Class 19B 4-8-2</span>

The South African Railways Class 19B 4-8-2 of 1930 was a steam locomotive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Class MF 2-6-6-2</span> Class of 14 South African Mallet locomotives

The South African Railways Class MF 2-6-6-2 of 1911 was a steam locomotive from the pre-Union era in Transvaal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Railway Ps-4 class</span> Class of 64 American 4-6-2 locomotives

The Southern Railway Ps-4 was a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives built for the Southern Railway, as well as its subsidiaries, the Alabama Great Southern Railroad and the Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway. The locomotives were notable for their green with gold trim liveries, and have been regarded by Smithsonian curator John H. White Jr. as being "among the most celebrated passenger locomotives operated in the United States...."

Maine Central Railroad Class W locomotives were intended for heavy freight service. They were of 2-8-0 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or "1'D" in UIC classification. They replaced earlier class O 4-6-0 locomotives beginning in 1910. They were in turn replaced by class S 2-8-2 locomotives for the heaviest freight service beginning in 1914, but remained in use on lighter freight trains until replaced by diesel locomotives after World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maine Central class S 2-8-2</span>

Maine Central Railroad Class S locomotives were intended for heavy freight service. They were of 2-8-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or " 1'D1' " in UIC classification. They replaced earlier class W 2-8-0 locomotives beginning in 1914. They were the largest and most modern steam freight locomotives built for Maine Central; although former Boston and Maine Railroad 2-10-2s were later purchased to handle World War II freight traffic. Class S locomotives pulled freight trains over the main line between Portland and Bangor, Maine; and are best remembered for service on the Mountain Division from 1929, when the class X Mallet locomotives were scrapped, until replacement by diesel locomotives in the early 1950s.

Maine Central Railroad Class C locomotives were intended for main line passenger service. They were of 4-6-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or " 2'C1' " in UIC classification. They replaced earlier class N 4-6-0 locomotives beginning in 1907. Class C locomotives pulled named passenger trains until replacement by diesel locomotives after World War II.

Maine Central Railroad steam switchers were designated Class K. They were of 0-6-0 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or "C" in UIC classification. American Locomotive Company (ALCO) began building more powerful yard locomotives for Maine Central in 1909. Twenty locomotives numbered 161 through 180 were active in 1923, and worked in Maine's largest cities until replaced by diesels after World War II.

Maine Central Railroad Class P locomotives were originally intended for heavy freight service. They were of 2-6-0 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or "1'C" in UIC classification. They replaced class M 2-6-0s for the heaviest freight service beginning in 1896. They were transferred to branch line service as replaced by class O 4-6-0 locomotives beginning in 1903. Most were scrapped during the Great Depression and none survived World War II.

Maine Central Railroad began operating diesel locomotives in 1935, and had retired all steam locomotives by 1954. That time interval was a joint operating period with the Boston and Maine Railroad (B&M). This article describes diesel locomotives owned by Maine Central through the period of joint operation and later independent operation prior to Guilford Rail System control in 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian National class N-4 2-8-0</span>

Canadian National class N-4 steam locomotives were of 2-8-0 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or 1′D in UIC classification. These locomotives were built for the Grand Trunk Railway (GT) from 1906 until GT began purchasing class M freight locomotives in 1913. Initially classed D2 by the Grand Trunk, they were built as Richmond compound locomotives with 210 lbf/in2 (1.4 MPa) boilers feeding 22+12 inches (572 mm) and 35 inches (889 mm) by 32 inches (813 mm) cylinders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago and North Western 175</span> Preserved American 4-6-0 locomotive

Chicago and North Western 175 is a preserved R-1 class 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in December 1908. The locomotive was used for pulling various passenger and freight trains throughout Wisconsin, until the Chicago and North Western (C&NW) Railroad ended commercial steam operations in 1957. In 1964, the locomotive was sold to Clint Jones, who had plans to use it on the Keweenaw Central Railroad for excursion service alongside Copper Range 2-8-0 No. 29, but restoration work was never completed under his ownership.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Robertson, Edwin B. (1977). Maine Central Steam Locomotives. Westbrook, Maine: Edwin B. Robertson. pp. 32–39.
  2. 1 2 3 Johnson, Ron (n.d.). Maine Central R.R. Mountain Division. 470 Railroad Club. pp. 67 & 323.
  3. Robertson, Edwin B. (1978). Maine Central Diesel Locomotives. Edwin B. Robertson. pp. 19&25.