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Illinois Central class 2900
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United States | 1921
125 produced
Image of locomotive
collection Cliff Downey

In 1921, Lima ordered 100 2-10-2 locomotives from Lima which were numbered 2901 to 3000 and which they called “Centrals” instead of “Santa Fes”. While the first seven 2-10-2 built four years earlier by Schenectady had been ordered for hump-yard service, the new ones were used in freight service. They had drivers of 63 inches and cylinders of 30 by 32 inches. In 1923, Lima delivered 25 more which received the numbers 3001 to 3025. Their firebox heating surface included 23.5 square feet in two arch tubes, 108.5 square feet in four thermic syphons and 386 square feet of the actual firebox walls.

When they became too slow for mainline freight service, they were rebuilt in multiple ways between 1937 and 1942. 56 were taken apart and their boilers were used to create class 2500 to 2555 with the wheel arrangement 4-8-2 and larger drivers. At the same time, the frames, cylinders and drivers were taken to create two new classes: 41 2-8-2 which were numbered 2100 to 2140 and 15 2-10-0 which were numbered 3610 to 3624.

Also the remaining 2-10-2 locomotives were modernized. They got mechanical lubricators, lightweight pistons, Boxpok drivers and more, while the boiler pressure was increased from 190 to 240 psi. One locomotive each had their pressure raised to 260 psi and received a booster. In 1944 and 1945, 20 got a new boiler and became 2800 to 2819. All 2-10-2 were scrapped between 1955 and 1962.

Variantas builtincreased boiler pressure
General
Built1921, 19231944-1945
ManufacturerLimaPaducah
Wheel arr.2-10-2 (Santa Fé) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase42 ft 6 in
Rigid wheelbase22 ft 4 in
Total wheelbase82 ft 10 in
Empty weight336,000 lbs
Service weight382,000 lbs
Adhesive weight296,500 lbs
Total weight590,600 lbs
Water capacity12,000 us gal
Fuel capacity32,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area88.3 sq ft
Firebox area518 sq ft
Tube heating area4,728 sq ft
Evaporative heating area5,246 sq ft
Superheater area1,285 sq ft
Total heating area6,531 sq ft
Variantas builtincreased boiler pressure
Power Plant
Driver diameter63 in
Boiler pressure190 psi240 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 30 x 32 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power3,700 hp (2,759 kW)4,150 hp (3,095 kW)
Starting effort73,829 lbf93,257 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
last changed: 02/2026
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