The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-02-02
TO USE HUGE
ENGINE WEST
FROM MANDAN
Northern Pacific Orders Larg.
est Locomotive Ever Built
in America

~ ueW JOCUmOLIVc, ync largest
steam engine ever built in America,
has been ordered by the Northern
Pacific Railway company for use
between Mandan, N. D.. and Glen
dive, Mont. according to an an
nounccment made today by F. f.
Williamson, vice president in charge
Of operation.
On account Of the ruling grades
of one per cent which predominatc
on that division, the company has
found it impossible to handle with
one locomotive east out Of Glendive
and west out Of Mandan the tonnage
that can be handled into those ter
minals with one of the Mikado type
locomotives now assigned to that
territory, according to Mr.. William
son. 1t is now necessary 10 reduce
the tonnage in both directions
through that territory, and assign
ment Of this large locomotive will
enable the company to move the
same tonnage through that area as
is delivered to it from either end.
Nearly Half a Block Long
The locomotive will have q length
of 121 feet, nearly one-half as long
as an ordinary city block. and will
be II feet longer than the 12large en-
gines placed in service by the North
ern Pacific last year to haul it's
North Coast Limited through the
mountain country. Its total weight,
including tender, will be 1852, 500
pounds, or SAL tons. It will have a
fire box 22 feet two inches long by
nine feet six inches wide, and its
tender will hold 26 tons of coal and
10000 gallons or Is tons Of water.
The enormous weight of this colos-
sus will be carried on 20 pairs Of
wheels. eight pairs Of which will be
driving wheels.
The tractive power of the Mikado
type is GO, ,460 pounds, while the trac-
tive power Of the new locomotive
will be $4,000 pounds.
The trailer will be equipped with
q booster which will exert tractive
effort of 13,4O0 pounds, making the
total for the locomotive 15O,40O
pounds.
Designed BY N. p. Engineers
The locomotive. which introduces
many new construction problems,
has been designed entirely by
Northern Pacific engineers. The
principal problem is the ability Of q
mechanical stoker properly to dis
tribute coal over q fire-box which
is larger than any heretofore built.
"This locomotive will be the
largest and most powerful steam To-
comotive ever constructed" Mr..
Williamson said. "In addition to
the enormous size Of this unit Of
power, perhaps the most interesting
feature is the fire-box, which has
been designed to burn semi-bitumin.
Gus coal mined at the Northern Pa
cific's open strip mines at Colstrip,
Mont. In order to handle the large
quantity Of fuel required for operat-
ing Z locomotive Of these proper
tions it has been necessary . pro-
vide fire-box with ! width Of ia
inches and length Of 266 inches, with
. CRATE Of ia inches BY 230 inches,
giving . CRATE area Of 1873 square
feet. This Is without exception the
largest locomotive fire-box ever
constructed and it was necessitated
on account Of the desire to burn this
1ow-grade fuel Ct combustion e.
1iciencies corresponding to those
now obtained on locomotives of Or
dinary standard proportions with
higher quality fusl.
May Order Meee L.ter