Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1909-08-09

| / -.-sSS- sents the maxi
mum of risk to
roadbed and passing traffic?
These are two queries being pro
pounded in railroad circles as the re-
suit of the refusal OF a western road.
which prides itself on its physical
condition. to haul the new Southern
Pacific "4000," the largest locomotive
in the world. from Chicago TO Omaha.
Despite the fact that the revenue
from the haul was over $4,000, and
that the mechanical giant had been
safely transported from the east TO
Chicago. this western road, conceded
to be the equal physically Of any OF
its competitors. declined the task.
In the mountain districts OF Call
fornia and Nevada, where the new To-
comotive is to be placed in service by
the Southern Pacific. II Is at present
necessary to assign at least two of
the strongest and heaviest Pacific
type locomotives to each loaded
freight train In order to safely nego-
tiate the steep grades. This has re-
suited in an extremely high cost OF
operation on this section OF the road.
A year ago or more Edward II.
| Hartman instructed the Southern
! Pacific engineers to evolve some plan
by which the cost OF this mountain
haul could be minimized After care
full investigation and study Of the sit
uation 1t was determined to expert
ment with locomotives possessing tire
DNpnhnno
articulated consolidated type" was
submitted to the engineers. and II was
| decided to purchase two OF these
giants with power more than double
that Of the great engines in present
use.
During the week past the first OF
these mechanical marvels to be con.
| structed arrived In Chicago and was
placed on public view In the La Sale
street station. Towering above the
passenger coaches on a track adjoin.
Ing. and with its great length accentu
ated by comparison with the sub.
urban engines pufing In and out Of
the depot, "S. p. 1000" became
magnet for the idly curious and those
! technically interested.
In 1S4s. when the Pioneer" the
first locomotive to run into Chicago
on the Chicago & Northwestern rail
road. wheezed its difficult way along
lightly built. but at that time a
wonderfully built, roadbed. the coun.
tryside went wild, and lined the cross.
roads to see the doughty little engine
pass.
]
What would be the exclamations of
those old-time railroad men and engi.2
neers could they from their last run
look forward score of years anil
critically examine this, the latest
giant creation of locomotive construc.
tors?
To see in place OF two small driving
wheels. l6 immense drivers, which
swing in rounding curves as do the
trucks on a wagon. To be shown
great boilers Z feet in diameter and
firebox over 10 feet long and 7 feet
wide, presenting a heating surface of
Q 172 square feet. Would these things
astound the pioneers. the Harrimans
Of early railroading?
The total weight OF ''S. p. 1000" Ia
| figures 1t is two and two-tenths times
more powerful than the heaviest loco
motive In present use The mountain
grades on which this Mallet type will
be placed In sevvice range from 2 10
SS per cent. Two OF this type will be
capable on these steep grades OF NOV
ing slightly larger train than ntlsS
handled by four consolidation freigf,1S
locomotives. the present giants.
Oil from wells in California will be
utilized for fuel, four barrels of which
are equivalent In fuel value to a ton
OF first-grade coal. On the driving
wheels the locomotive weighs 100000
pounds. the total weight OF engine be-
Ing 100000 pounds.
The tender. loaded and ready for
service. weighs 10000 pounds, or a
total OF engine and tender Of 600, 900
pounds. The cylinders are 26 inches
by 40 inches in diameter, with 30-inch
stroke of piston. The 16 driving
wheels are 81 inches In diameter. The
total wheel base of the locomotive Is
55 feet 10 inches. and OF the locomo-
tive and tender 81 feet, the extreme
length over all being 10 feet more, or
92 feet.
The tractive power is 94.64O pounds,
the most powerful locomotive in the
world.
The giant "S. p. 4000," in the opin-
ion OF many experienced railroad en-
gineers, represents the limit in size
and weight for safe operating, the
maximum risk for the minimum cost.