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Seaboard Air Line class A
Baltimore & Ohio class EL-6a
United States | 1918
16 produced
collection Chester Holley

In 1918, the Seaboard Air Line received 16 2-8-8-2 Mallets from ALCO-Richmond to move fast, heavy freights on their main line between Richmond, Virginia and Hamlet, North Carolina. After the wartime traffic had ended, it became clear that the SAL didn't have many uses for them since they were too heavy for many of their secondary lines and didn't fit the clearances in many places.

So all were sold to the B&O in 1920 and only two years later, they were rebuilt to class EL-6a. In this process, they got the wheel arrangement 2-8-8-0 by removing the trailing axle. This considerably increased the adhesive weight and at the same time they were simpled and got a higher boiler pressure, what also increased their starting tractive effort. In this form, they were used until 1954.

Variantas builtB&O EL-6a
General
Built19181922
ManufacturerALCOMartinsburg
Axle config2-8-8-2 (Mikado Mallet) 2-8-8-0 (Bull Moose) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase53 ft 4 in
Rigid wheelbase15 ft 5 1/2 in
Total wheelbase98 ft 3 in
Service weight497,000 lbs492,000 lbs
Adhesive weight380,000 lbs456,700 lbs
Total weight716,000 lbs711,000 lbs
Axle load47,500 lbs61,300 lbs
Water capacity12,000 us gal
Fuel capacity40,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area88 sq ft
Firebox area391 sq ft398 sq ft
Tube heating area5,559 sq ft5,524 sq ft
Evaporative heating area5,950 sq ft5,922 sq ft
Superheater area1,460 sq ft1,380 sq ft
Total heating area7,410 sq ft7,302 sq ft
Variantas builtB&O EL-6a
Power Plant
Driver diameter63 in
Boiler pressure210 psi225 psi
Expansion typecompoundsimple
Cylindersfour, HP: 26 1/2 x 32 in
and LP: 42 x 32 in
four, 25 x 32 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power3,500 hp (2,610 kW)3,600 hp (2,685 kW)
Optimal speed24 mph19 mph
Starting effort91,082 lbf121,429 lbf
with start valve109,298 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
Mallet
last changed: 10/2024
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