Norfolk and Western Railway class A

The Norfolk and Western A was a class of 43 2-6-6-4 steam locomotives built by the railroad's own Roanoke Shops between 1936 and 1950 and operated until the late 1950s. The locomotives hauled fast and heavy freight trains for the railroad and only one has been preserved, No. 1218.

Norfolk and Western A class
Norfolk & Western Railway Class A 2-6-6-4 steam locomotive at the New York World's Fair 1939-06-17.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderN&W's Roanoke Shops
Serial number266–267, 273–280, 332–346, 353–362, 380–387
Build date1936–1950
Total produced43
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte2-6-6-4
  UIC(1′C)C2′ h4
Gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.33 in (838 mm)
Driver dia.70 in (1,778 mm)
Trailing dia.42 in (1,067 mm)
WheelbaseLoco & tender: 108.27 ft (33.00 m)
Length121 ft 9 14 in (37.1 m) including tender[1]
Width11 ft (3.35 m)
Height16 ft (4.88 m)
Axle load72,000 lb (33,000 kilograms; 33 metric tons)
Adhesive weight433,350 lb (196,560 kilograms; 196.56 metric tons)
Loco weight573,000 lb (260,000 kilograms; 260 metric tons)
Tender weight378,600 lb (171,700 kilograms; 171.7 metric tons)
Total weight951,600 lb (431,600 kilograms; 431.6 metric tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity26 t (26 long tons; 29 short tons)
Water cap22,000 US gal (83,000 l; 18,000 imp gal)
Fuel consumption7 t (6.9 long tons; 7.7 short tons) of coal per hour
13,926.6 US gal (52,718 l; 11,596.3 imp gal) of water per hour
Firebox:
  Firegrate area
122 sq ft (11.3 m2)
Boiler pressure300 lbf/in2 (2.07 MPa)
Heating surface:
  Firebox
587 sq ft (54.5 m2)
Superheater:
  Heating area2,703 sq ft (251.1 m2)
CylindersFour
Cylinder size26 in × 30 in (660 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gearBaker
Performance figures
Maximum speedOver 70 mph (110 km/h)[1]
Power output5,400 hp (4,030 kW)
Tractive effortStarting: 125,897 lbf (560.02 kN) Continuous: 114,000 lbf (507.10 kN)[1]
Factor of adh.3.44
Career
OperatorsNorfolk and Western
ClassA
Numbers1200–1242
Retired1958–1959
PreservedOne preserved (No. 1218)
DispositionNorfolk and Western 1218 on display in Roanoke, Virginia, remainder scrapped

History

Upon delivery on the class starting in 1936, starting with 1200 and 1201, they were tested and proved successful, with the railroad satisfied with the class and bought eight more the following year. During testing, N&W officials were very impressed with their performance, as they were capable of pulling 4,800 tons at 25 mph on a 0.5% grade and 7,500 tons at 64 mph on level track. During World War II, the railroad built 25 more "A"s between 1943 and 1944 and finally eight more between 1949 and 1950. They were some of the last mainline steam locomotives to be put into service.[2] The locomotives had a cast-steel frame and Timken roller bearings on nearly every surface. The last five had McGill MultiRol roller bearings in the side and main rods, making them the only articulateds to take such friction-reducing measures. They were assigned to freight service and have pulled slower heavy freight trains as well as fast time freight. They were rated at 13,000 tons of drag freight between Williamson, West Virginia and Portsmouth, Ohio, and can reach speeds up to 42 mph pulling such a load. Between Portsmouth and Columbus, Ohio, they were rated at 5,200 tons of fast freight and can reach 65 mph. On passenger runs, they can reach 70 mph. Over the Kenova District, the railroad increased the "A"'s slow freight tonnage ratings from 13,000 to 14,500 tons. To reduce the amount of stops for water, they ran with auxiliary tenders with capacities of up to 20,800 gallons of water. In 1952, the N&W tested one of the "A"s and Y6b-class locomotives against a four-unit Electro-Motive Division (at that time, of General Motors) F7 diesel set. The tests indicated that fuel costs and similar items were roughly the same, and the test was considered a tie. However, diesels eventually won out for lower maintenance and other operational costs. As successful as the class was, diesels eventually replaced them and retirement started in 1958 and by 1959, all of the "A"s have been retired.[3]

Preservation

Only one "A" has been preserved, No. 1218. It was retired in 1959 and the same year, it was purchased by the Union Carbide Co. in Charleston, West Virginia, where it was used as a stationary boiler at a chemical plant.[4] In 1965, it was repurchased by New England millionaire F. Nelson Blount for his locomotive collection at Steamtown, U.S.A. in Bellows Falls, Vermont.[4] Three years later, its former owner Norfolk & Western did a cosmetic restoration on 1218 at their East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia (the same place where it was built).[4] After that, it was put on display at the Roanoke Transportation Museum in 1971.[4] It was restored and operated in excursion service for the Norfolk Southern steam program between 1987 and 1991 and went for an overhaul. The program was then canceled in 1994 and the locomotive was eventually put back on display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia. It is the only surviving 2-6-6-4 steam locomotive in the world.

Roster

Table of orders and numbers
Year built Quantity Serial Nos. N&W No. Notes
1936 2 266–267 1200–1201
1937 8 273–280 1202-1209
1943 15 332–346 1210–1224 No. 1218 preserved, ran excursions between 1987 and 1991, sole remaining 2-6-6-4.
1944 10 353–362 1225–1234
1949–1950 8 380–387 1235–1242

References

Bibliography

  • Wrinn, Jim (2000). Steam's Camelot: Southern and Norfolk Southern Excursions in Color (1st ed.). TLC Publishing. ISBN 1-883089-56-5.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.