The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-06-19
New Rock Island Mikado Locomotive.

ager, was notified of the recent order
for twenty-five new Mikado type
powerful freight locomotives. This
engine, the largest in use on the Rock
Island freight service, will be sent to
Kansas for the work on the Kansas,
Ell Paso and Colorado divisions.
These locomotives have been tested
by the Rock Island Lines. The first
delivery some time ago relieved the
road of a shortage of power in times
when freight was coming quickly and
when a heavy demand was made on
motive power. 1t was found that the
hauling capacity is considerably larg-
er than the other type Of freight en-
gines and the economy in fuel con-
sumption has been marked
These locomotives are being intro
duced in order to increase the ton
mage capacity and relieve freight con-
gestion. The average load per pair
of driving wheels is nearly 10000
pounds and in point OF total weight
the locomotives are the heaviest of
their type thus far completed by the
builders-the Baldwin Locomotive
Works. The engines we~e built in
accordance with specifications fur
nished by T. Rumney who was assist
ant second vice president at the time.
Compared with the average type of
freight locomotives used on the Rock
Island the new Mikados show an in
crease in tractive force of IS per cent,
in weight on driving wheels Of 81 per
cent and in total equivalent heating
surface of SO per cent. The engines
are equipped with. fire tube super
heaters. On the basis of water eva
porating surface alone, the, locomo-
tiVes show an increase of So per cent
over the old class and this is prac-
tically in proportion to the tractlve
force. Therefore the increase in rela-
tive boiler capacity measured on a
heating surface basis, is provided by
the superheater and is approximately
n 1T
hauling capacity for the new engines
plus the added advantage of taking
the larger tonnage at higher speed
than could be maintained by the old
engines
The boilers of the new Mikados pre-
sent a few features that are worthy
of mention in the railroad mechanical
world. The firebox is radically stayed.
The superheater is of the Schmidt
type. 1t provides 1850 square feet
of superheating surface and the eie-
ments are located in sc tubes each
II inches in diameter.
The frames are of Vanadlum cast
steel with back sections of hammered
iron. The front frames are single and
are cast in one piece with the main
frames which are six inches wide and
measure seven inches IN depth over
the pedestals. The rear frames are IL
the form of slabs and are 2 II inches
in diameter.
The tender is of the Vanderbilt tyre
the only engine of this type on this
district The tenders have a capacity
of 5000 gallons of water and 10 tons
of coal The tank has diameter OF
eight feet, nine inches and the frame
is composed of SKA inch angles with
steel bumpers. The trucks have cast
steel side frames and steel tired
wheels.
These ocomotives have a ratio of
adhesion of 4.12. The weight on
drivers is thus fully utilized and, as
has been pointed out. the boiler Ca
pacity is sufficient to insure free
steaminS.
The NIikados have been specially
constructed to meet difficult operating
conditions and trials indicate that
their performance is satisfactory to
the roads freight service.