Great Northern 2584

Great Northern 2584 is a 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in March 1930 for the Great Northern Railway (GN) as a member of the S-2 class.

Great Northern 2584
GN 2584 and nearby sculpture, U.S.–Canada Friendship in Havre, Montana
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerWilliam Kelly[1]
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number61238
ModelBaldwin 16-52-24-E, (#10)
Build dateMarch 1930
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-8-4
  UIC2′D2′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.36 in (914 mm)
Driver dia.80 in (2,032 mm)
Trailing dia.46 in (1,168 mm)
Tender wheels33 in (838 mm)
WheelbaseLoco & tender: 91.17 ft (27.79 m)
Length103 ft 3 18 in (31.47 m)
Width11 ft 0 34 in (3.37 m)
Height16 ft 0 78 in (4.90 m)
Axle load64,250 lb (29,140 kilograms; 29.14 metric tons)
Adhesive weight257,000 lb (117,000 kilograms; 117 metric tons)
Loco weight438,120 lb (198,730 kilograms; 198.73 metric tons)
Tender weightWorking: 326,560 lb (148,130 kilograms; 148.13 metric tons)
Empty: 136,300 lb (61,800 kilograms; 61.8 metric tons)
Total weight764,680 lb (346,850 kilograms; 346.85 metric tons)
Tender typeVanderbilt, Water-bottom
Fuel typeFuel oil
Fuel capacity5,800 US gal (22,000 l; 4,800 imp gal)
Water cap17,250 US gal (65,300 l; 14,360 imp gal)
Firebox:
  Firegrate area
97.75 sq ft (9.081 m2)
Boiler84 in (2,134 mm)
Boiler pressure225 lbf/in2 (1.55 MPa)
Heating surface:
  Firebox
401 sq ft (37.3 m2)
Superheater:
  TypeType E
  Heating area2,265 sq ft (210.4 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size29 in × 29 in (737 mm × 737 mm)
Valve gearWalschaert
Valve typePiston valves
Performance figures
Maximum speedAt least 100 mph (160 km/h)
Power output3,300 hp (2,500 kW)[2]
Tractive effort58,305 lbf (259.35 kN)
Factor of adh.4.40
Career
OperatorsGreat Northern
ClassS-2
Number in class10 of 14
NumbersGN 2584
DeliveredApril 1930
Last runLate 1956
RetiredDecember 1957
PreservedMarch 21, 1958
DispositionOn display at the Havre depot in Havre, Montana

The locomotive was built for fast passenger service and was assigned to pull the Great Northern's mainline passenger trains such as the Empire Builder and Oriental Limited. It was then retired in December 1957 and donated to the Havre depot in Havre, Montana for display in May 1964. It is the sole surviving Great Northern S-2 Class "Northern", the sole surviving Great Northern "Northern" type and the largest surviving Great Northern steam locomotive.

Service history

When delivered to the Great Northern in April 1930, 2584 was assigned to the railroad's premier passenger trains such as the Empire Builder and Oriental Limited between St. Paul, Minnesota and Seattle, Washington as well as fast mail trains. Initially, the locomotive was assigned to the flatter districts due to the districts having long tangents, easy curves and light grades,[3] then a test in 1931 proved the class was capable of pulling the Empire Builder over the Divide between Havre and Whitefish, Montana where grades are up to 1.8% and the locomotive was also assigned to the Divide and eventually as far east as St. Paul, Minnesota, where the Empire Builder starts on the Great Northern's mainline.[4] In 1945, the locomotive was fitted with Timken roller bearings on every axle, including every axle on its tender, replacing its original friction bearings. By 1949, despite performing excellently in passenger service, the railroad had dieselised its premier passenger trains and the locomotive was then reassigned to secondary passenger trains and freight service, of which the latter service was proven to be rather unsuitable for it due to being designed as a passenger locomotive. By the 1950s, No. 2584 and her sister locomotives were repainted from their original Glacier Green to black.[5]

In late 1956, 2584 made its final run and was stored in a roundhouse in Superior, Wisconsin and had its journal boxes painted red and sat there for years.[6][7]

Accident

On August 9, 1945, No. 2584 was involved in a wreck, however, the locomotive was undamaged, as the rear of its train was rear-ended by sister locomotive No. 2588 at 45 mph. No. 2584's tender, however, had suffered from a hot box and has stopped at Petersburg and again at Michigan prior to the wreck.[5][8] After the hot box and accident were resolved, both 2584 and 2588 were returned to service.

Preservation

2584 was retired in December 1957 and on March 21, 1958, the Great Northern had decided to hold it for historical purposes and it was eventually repainted to its original Glacier Green paint scheme. On May 15, 1964, the locomotive was put on display at the Havre depot in Havre, Montana and was dedicated there.[9] As of today, it still resides there on display.[5] It also has a marker describing the locomotive and the S-2 class in general on the engineer's side of the locomotive's tender.[10]

References

  • Keyes, Norman C., Jr.; Middleton, Kenneth R. (Autumn 1980). "The Great Northern Railway Company: All-Time Locomotive Roster, 1861–1970". Railroad History. Boston, Mass.: Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. 143: 114. ISSN 0090-7847. JSTOR 43523930.
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