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Other Steam Locomotives from the Center and the West of the USA[Inhalt]
Gilpin Tramway Co. No. 1 (Shay A-9-2)
United States | 1887
only one produced
Gilpin Tramway No. 1
Gilpin Tramway No. 1

A few years after the construction of the first engines, the design of the Shay locomotives changed from the vertical boiler to a classic, horizontal boiler barrel with clearly visible steam and sand domes. One of these nine-ton-class models was procured by the Gilpin Tramway in 1887 for its 15.5-mile route in Gilpin County near Denver, with a two-foot gauge. It had the factory number 181 and was given the number 1 and the name “Gilpin” by its owner. Four more Shays followed in the years up to 1902 with 12, 15, 17 and 18 tons. The first two were sold in 1905, the others remained in service until the line was closed in 1917.

General
Built1887
ManufacturerLima
Axle config0-4-4-0T (Shay) 
Gauge2 ft 0 in (Two feet)
Dimensions and Weights
Empty weight23,300 lbs
Water capacity456 us gal
Fuel capacity1,500 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Power Plant
Driver diameter24 in
Boiler pressure150 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 7 x 7 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Top speed14 mph
Starting effort1,822 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
Shay
geared steam locomotive
narrow gauge
freight
last changed: 04/2022
Kansas City Southern class J
United States | 1937
10 produced
Ron Ziel, „American Locomotives 1858 to 1949”

After the KCS had been a friend of Mallets for a long time, they procured a total of ten locomotives with the wheel arrangement 2-10-4 in 1937. Five each were coal and oil fired. This was the first time a boiler of this size has been used with a boiler pressure of 310 psi or 21.4 bars. They achieved an indicated power of 4,825 hp and minus the mass of the locomotive and tender there was still 4,475 hp left at the draw bar. During the Second World War, they were also used to transport troops, and with their 70-inch driving wheels they were able to keep to the timetables of passenger trains. They were replaced by diesel locomotives in 1952 and 1953 and scrapped in 1954.

Variantcoaloil
General
Built1937
ManufacturerLima
Axle config2-10-4 (Texas) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase48 ft 8 1/2 in
Rigid wheelbase24 ft 4 in
Total wheelbase98 ft 5 in
Service weight514,000 lbs509,000 lbs
Adhesive weight353,300 lbs
Total weight868,690 lbs857,000 lbs
Axle load75,000 lbs
Water capacity21,000 us gal21,700 us gal
Fuel capacity60,000 lbs (coal)4,500 us gal (oil)
Boiler
Grate area107 sq ft
Firebox area502 sq ft
Tube heating area4,652 sq ft
Evaporative heating area5,154 sq ft
Superheater area2,075 sq ft
Total heating area7,229 sq ft
Variantcoaloil
Power Plant
Driver diameter70 in
Boiler pressure310 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 27 x 34 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power4,825 hp (3,598 kW)
Optimal speed33 mph
Starting effort93,302 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
last changed: 04/2023
Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway No. 6
United States | 1906
only one produced
Railway and Locomotive Engineering, November 1906

The Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway, opened in 1891, provides an access to the famous mountain in Colorado. It starts in Manitou Springs at an elevation of 6,320 ft (1,930 m) and reaches the top at 14,115 ft (4,302 m). While its steepest section has a gradient of 25 percent, the average is twelve percent. All of its steam locomotives were built by Baldwin, with No. 6 being delivered in 1906.

No. 6 was the first one to be fired with oil. After its older sisters were rebuilt as four-cylinder Vauclain compounds, it was built this way and had its axles turned by levers instead of direct connecting rods. The boiler and the cab were inclined by 16 percent to compensate for the gradient. As opposed to most of its sisters, it is not preserved today since it was scrapped in 1955.

General
Built1906
ManufacturerBaldwin
Axle config0-6-0RT (Abt)
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase10 ft 3 59/64 in
Service weight60,000 lbs
Adhesive weight60,000 lbs
Axle load20,000 lbs
Water capacity600 us gal
Fuel capacity325 lbs (oil)
Boiler
Grate area19.7 sq ft
Firebox area58.3 sq ft
Tube heating area546.7 sq ft
Evaporative heating area605 sq ft
Total heating area605 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter22.5 in
Boiler pressure210 psi
Expansion typecompound
Cylindersfour, HP: 10 x 24 in
and LP: 15 x 24 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power300 hp (224 kW)
Optimal speed7 mph
Starting effort25,284 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
tank locomotive
cog railway
passenger
Vauclain compound
last changed: 04/2024
Missouri-Kansas-Texas classes L-1a and L-1b
United States | 1913
70 produced
No. 764, one of the engines with baker valve gear in Dallas, Texas
No. 764, one of the engines with baker valve gear in Dallas, Texas
collection Taylor Rush

In 1913 and 1914, the MKT received 60 Mikados from ALCO-Brooks with Walschaerts valve gear, which were listed as class L-1a. Their Number was augmented in 1914 by ten more, which received Baker valve gear and were listed as Class L-1b because of this difference. They were initially coal fired but underwent a conversion to oil firing by 1922. The new tenders now held 2,990 gallons of oil instead of 14 short tons of coal and had a slightly smaller water reserve. The boiler pressure had meanwhile been increased from 185 to 195 psi

Variantas builtrebuilt oil-fired
General
Built1913-19141922
ManufacturerALCO
Axle config2-8-2 (Mikado) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase35 ft 1 in
Rigid wheelbase16 ft 6 in
Total wheelbase70 ft 7 1/2 in
Service weight287,500 lbs
Adhesive weight214,500 lbs
Total weight457,000 lbs455,500 lbs
Axle load53,625 lbs
Water capacity8,500 us gal8,000 us gal
Fuel capacity28,000 lbs (coal)2,990 us gal (oil)
Boiler
Grate area57.5 sq ft
Firebox area250 sq ft
Tube heating area3,378 sq ft
Evaporative heating area3,628 sq ft
Superheater area887 sq ft
Total heating area4,515 sq ft
Variantas builtrebuilt oil-fired
Power Plant
Driver diameter61 in
Boiler pressure185 psi195 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 26 1/2 x 30 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power2,575 hp (1,920 kW)2,650 hp (1,976 kW)
Optimal speed30 mph
Starting effort54,309 lbf57,245 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
last changed: 09/2022
San Joaquin & Eastern No. 105 to 109 (Climax class C 70 tons)
United States | 1916
5 produced
No. 108 in April 1933 in Auberry, California
No. 108 in April 1933 in Auberry, California
G.M. Best

The 55-mile-long San Joaquin & Eastern was built in Fresno County, California in 1912 to serve the Big Creek hydroelectric dam site. Since it was sometimes described as the most crooked railway line in the world, steam locomotives with bogies were used on the mountainous sections. After five Shays from 1912, six more Climax were purchased between 1916 and 1923.

The first five of these were of the three-truck C class with 70 tons. Like many railroads in the region, they were fired by oil. When the unprofitable line closed in 1933, No. 108 shown was shipped overseas. The sixth Climax with number 110 from 1923 was of the B class with 45 tons.

General
Built1916-1922
ManufacturerClimax
Axle config0-4-4-4-0T (Climax) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Service weight140,000 lbs
Adhesive weight140,000 lbs
Axle load23,335 lbs
Fuel capacityoil
Boiler
Power Plant
Driver diameter35 in
Boiler pressure200 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 14 1/2 x 16 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Starting effort16,339 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
Climax
geared steam locomotive
last changed: 01/2024
Union Railroad class U-108b
Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range class S7
United States | 1936
10 produced
No. 303 on a works photo
No. 303 on a works photo
Ron Ziel, „American Locomotives 1858 to 1949”

The Union Railroad was part of US Steel and was responsible for freight traffic between some of their plants and the main lines of several railroads in western Pennsylvania. The low speeds made it possible to achieve the largest possible adhesive weight without using a leading axle and without exceeding the length of the existing turntables. There was an additional booster on the first tender axle.

Since these locomotives were the only ones in North America with the 0-10-2 wheel arrangement, the name “Union” came about. The service at the Union Railroad ended in 1949 with the purchase of the first diesel locomotives. Nine of the ten locomotives were sold to the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range, which also belonged to US Steel. They retired from service there between 1958 and 1961 and DM&IR number 604 is now on display in Greenville, Pennsylvania.

General
Built1936-1939
ManufacturerBaldwin
Axle config0-10-2 (Union) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase32 ft
Rigid wheelbase22 ft
Total wheelbase67 ft 3 in
Service weight404,300 lbs
Adhesive weight343,930 lbs
Total weight644,300 lbs
Axle load70,000 lbs
Water capacity12,000 us gal
Fuel capacity28,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area85.3 sq ft
Firebox area448.7 sq ft
Tube heating area4,359.3 sq ft
Evaporative heating area4,808 sq ft
Superheater area1,389 sq ft
Total heating area6,197 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter61 in
Boiler pressure260 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 28 x 32 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power4,000 hp (2,983 kW)
Optimal speed28 mph
Starting effort90,893 lbf
Booster17,150 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
switcher
last changed: 11/2023
Uintah Railway No. 50 and 51
United States | 1926
2 produced
flickr/Historical Railway Images

The Uintah Railway operated a three-foot gauge line in Colorado and Utah where it hauled asphaltite over Baxter pass. This not only had tight curves, but also a six mile long 7.5 percent ascent followed by a seven mile long 5 percent descent. Even though they had used Shays, many trains could only be handled by two of those. To remedy this problem, they ordered a powerful articulated 2-6-6-2T tank locomotive from Baldwin in 1926.

This one now could haul the same load as two Shays. This meant a maximum trailing load of 240 tons at 5 percent and 145 tons at 7.5 percent. Due to problems getting dry steam on severe grades, it was retrofitted with a second steam dome in front of the cab. After this, a second locomotive was ordered in 1928.

The end of the Uintah Railway came in 1939 when trucks had taken over their tasks. Both No. 50 and 51 were sold to the Sumpter Valley Railroad in Oregon. There they were rebuilt to oil-burning tender locomotives and renumbered to 250 and 251. After operating there until 1947, they were sold to the International Railways of Central America in Guatemala, where they were retired in 1962 and 1964.

General
Built1926, 1928
ManufacturerBaldwin
Axle config2-6-6-2 (Mallet Mogul) 
Gauge3 ft (Three feet)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase38 ft
Rigid wheelbase7 ft 2 in
Service weight236,300 lbs
Adhesive weight194,000 lbs
Axle load30,240 lbs
Water capacity2,800 us gal
Fuel capacity4,500 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area37.4 sq ft
Firebox area125 sq ft
Tube heating area1,975 sq ft
Evaporative heating area2,100 sq ft
Superheater area505 sq ft
Total heating area2,605 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter42 in
Boiler pressure210 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylindersfour, 15 x 22 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power1,400 hp (1,044 kW)
Optimal speed21 mph
Starting effort42,075 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
Articulated
last changed: 08/2024
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