The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-17

THE Delaware and Hudson railroad
has just placed a sl50,000 contract for
fifteen consolidated locomotives with
the Schenectady Locomotive Works. or
these engines il is thought that three
or four will bc placed on the Susque-
hanna division between this city and
Albany" says the Binghamton Herald.
"All these engines are Culm burners of
the kind known as Mother Hubbard,
and are such as are now commonly in
use on the Erie and Delaware. Lacka-
wanna and Western railroads and their
branches. Heretofore. the Delaware
and Hudson management has refrained
from extensively using this type of en-
gines and what few have been used
have been adopted more for ascertain
ing their real worth than from any
other reason. But now that the engines
have stood the test so we'll, it seems
likely that the manage ment will place
large contracts for Culm burning en-
gineS with several locomotive works
and as rauidly as possible replace the
old style engine with the Culm burner.
AT present there are five culm burn
crs in use on the Susuuchanna division
and all of these were turned out by the
Dickson Locomotive Works of SCran-
ton. Pa They have stood the test well
aud have been used solely for freight
and heavy grade work.
THE ENGINES ORDERED.
The contract placed with the Sche-
nectady factory calls for Ten consolida-
tion freight locomotives with wide fire.
boxes. cylinders u by 26 inches. weight
10000 pounds on drivers, total weight
Il. ole EN.. Of
the same type, except that they are
much heavier. having cylinders % by
Is inches, weight 100 OO0 pounds on driv-
ers, total weight 10000 pounds.
These last five engines are designed
wholly for pushing locomotives on
heavy grades and as this end OF the
line is sadly in need of some engines
of this kind it is believed two of them
will be sent here. OF the other kind of
Culm burners, included in the contract,
very likely two or three will be sent
here.
"All these kind of engines cost be-
tween 1OOcO and $4,000 each or an av-
erage OF about $1,000 more than the old
type, it can he seen this contract calls
for S15O,00O at the least This is one of
the largest contracts ever placed by the
Delaware and Hudson with any single
locomotive works and is also one of the
largest in railroad history.
The culm burner is a much heavier
engine than any other kind, but is like
wise the best kind of an engine for
heavy draught work. Unlike other en-
gincs the huge fire-boX hangs over the
rear wheels and the engineers cab is
placed in the middle of the engine be-
hind the boiler, thus aftording a clear
lookout ahead.
LARGE DRIVING WHEEL.
An extraordinary large driVinl:
wheel is used, the diameter of the wheel
ON the average kind being Sc inches,
thus atfording a solidity generative Of
much unusual force. For grade work
excellent facilities are afforded through
steam pressure of $50 pounds to the
inch
1t is this strong tractive power tina t
makes the use of the culm burner so de-
sirable in grade work. The water tank
affords capacity Of 1000 gallons, the
capacity of the coal tender is eight
tons. AS it is essentially a culm burner
engine its economy in use of cheap coal
is one of its most desirable features"