The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-14
RAILROAD NEWS.
Giant Rail Engine Makes a New
and Great Record.
Largest Locomotive Ever Put
Together Is Turned Out.
1T WEIGHS 1O5 TONS.
Is Able to Haul a Train Two
Miles Long.
Other Items of Interest to
Railway People.
1T WEIGHS 1O5 TONS.

Special correspondence to the Chicago
Evening Post from Schenectady, N. Y,
tells of the great engine that has been
built for the Erie railroad as follows;
From the works of the American Lo-
connective company there has just been
turned out for the Erie railroad a mon
ster engine, and one which has the dis
tinction of being more powerful than
any locomotive hitherto constructed
The building of this great engine was
brought about by the grade located at
the west end of the Delaware division.
which is 1O4 miles in length, and at the
east end of the SusQuehanna division,
which is 140 miles long. Figures recent
ly show that at present the heaviest
freight engine of the Erie, Weighing
1s4, 900 pounds. can haul train weigh
ing 3.4OO tons from Cornell. at the west
end of the Susequehanna division to
Port Jervis at the east end of the Della
ware division provided it is assisted
over the eight-mile stretch of road re-
ferred to containing a 1 $40 per cent
grade Up to the present time freight
trains have been assisted over the grade
by two and sometimes even three OF
the heaviest of the Erie helper engines;
or if that was not done. it was neces-
sary to cut the train in two This en-
tailed trouble and delay, and also in
volved the use of extra engineers and
firemen.
Solution of Hauling Problem.
In order to solve the problem, it was
suggested by the American Locomotive
company to concentrate the helping
power in one engine of exceptional
weight and power. thus placing the
whole of the auxiliary power in the
hands of a single crew
The first locomotive of this type to
be constructed in this country was built
by the company for the Baltimore &
Ohio mountain service: and in the few
years it has been at work it has given
most excellent service, hauling even
greater loads than were anticipated,
and al 1.-The parts functioning satisfac-
torily- This was followed by a still
larger engine for the same class of SER
vice. built by the Baldwin Locomotive
company for the Great Northern COM
pany.
The third to be built is the huge loco
motive which forms the subject of the
present article. BY a study of the ac
companying figures showing relative
weights and dimensions, it will be seen
that the Erie locomotive marks a great
advance upon the other two, the total
weight of the engine having gone up
from $50 COO pounds in the Great North
ern to 100000 pounds in the Erie locomo-
tive, and the tractive effort from II, 500
pounds TO IS 600 pounds.
Largest of Boilers Designed.
To supply steam to engines of such
great power it became necessary to de-
sign a boiler far larger than any in
existence. The weight of the boiler is
100000 pounds 1t has total heating
surface of 1914 square feet
The high-pressure cylinders are 25
inches the lOw-presure 80 inches dame |
ter, and both have a stroke of Is inches. |
The tractive effort of $4,000 pounds will |
be developed when the engine is work |
ing compound; but an intercepting |
valve is provided, by which the engi- |
neer can turn his steam into the low |
pressure cylinders, in which case about |
As per cent of the boiler pressure will be |
realized in them. rising to a maximum |
of about 10000 pounds.
Under these conditions the locomotive !
could haul on the level $50 loaded freight |
cars-a train that would measure nearly |
wo miles in length. If such train were |
loaded with wheat it would represent |
the product of twenty-six square miles |
of wheat land.
Has Sixteen Driving Wheels.
The total weight of the engine is 210. /
BOO pounds which put in tonnage, gives !
the figures of los tons. The length of |
the engine is so feet. The locomotive is |
carried upon two sets of eight driving |
wheels each. all of the eight in each |
case being coupled so that the whole of /
the weight of 100000 pounds of the en- |
CINE is avails BILE for adhesion The boil /
y is mounted rigidly upon the main, or /
after. frame of the locomotive. and its /