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Erie class L-1
United States | 1907
3 produced
Locomotive Magazine, September 1907

In the early years of the twentieth century, Mallet locomotives served only as an articulated solution for narrow-gauge railways. The L-1 of the Erie Railroad of 1907 was one of the first to show that very large freight locomotives could also be built with the Mallet principle. At the time it was commissioned, it was the largest and most powerful locomotive in the world. Since it was only intended as a pusher locomotive and did not have to reach high speeds, there was no need for leading or trailing axles. Thus, all eight axles were available as adhesive weight. The wheel arrangement was soon called “Angus”.

No. 2601
No. 2601

A Wooten firebox with a grate area of 100 square feet was used to maximize the energy yield from low-grade coal. In order to still ensure a good view for the engineer, the L-1 was built as a camelback engine and thus had the cab above the rearmost axle of the front bogie. It was the only camelback Mallet ever built.

Schematic drawing
Schematic drawing
Railway and Locomotive Engineering, September 1907

Only three examples were built, which were used on the Delaware and Susquehanna divisions to push trains up a 1.3 percent incline. They were rebuilt to a more conventional form in 1921. The cab was moved to the rear and two carrying axles were added, whereby they now had the wheel arrangement 2-8-8-2.

General
Built1907
ManufacturerALCO
Axle config0-8-8-0 (Angus (Mallet)) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length84 ft 9 3/4 in
Wheelbase39 ft 2 in
Rigid wheelbase14 ft 3 in
Total wheelbase70 ft 5 in
Service weight410,000 lbs
Adhesive weight410,000 lbs
Total weight577,700 lbs
Axle load54,100 lbs
Water capacity8,500 us gal
Fuel capacity32,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area100 sq ft
Firebox area348.3 sq ft
Tube heating area4,965.7 sq ft
Evaporative heating area5,314 sq ft
Total heating area5,314 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter51 in
Boiler pressure215 psi
Expansion typecompound
Cylindersfour, HP: 25 x 28 in
and LP: 39 x 28 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power3,000 hp (2,237 kW)
Optimal speed22 mph
Starting effort88,890 lbf
with start valve106,668 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
Mallet
camelback
last changed: 06/2022
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