Long-Bell Lumber 2-8-2 "Mikado" Locomotives in the USA

The Longview, Portland and Northern Railway is a historic railroad operation in the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. It was founded by timber baron Robert A. Long, the founder of Longview, Washington. The company was incorporated in 1922 in Gardiner OR to open a line between Longview Junction and a mill in Ryderwood, Washington. That line was completed in 1929, but was abandoned in 1953, when the mill closed. .

In 1926 Alco Richmond built two identical mikados for the Longview, Portland & Northern (c/n 66919-66920, road numbers 1400-1401). LP&N used these primarily to haul log trains on its Ryderwood to Longview (Washington) mainline up until the time a couple Alco switchers replaced them in 1949.

On 2/23/1945 the LP&N sold the #1400 for $29,205 to the Oregon & Northwestern Railroad (O&NW) where it worked until scrapped in 1957. The O&NW made good use of the #1400. In fact it replaced the #27.

LP&N parent Long Bell transferred the #1401 to its logging railroad out of Tennant, California (former Weed Lumber Company) but the #1401 proved way too heavy for the Weed operation and languished in storage until the end of that operation.

These mikados were designed for a maximum grade of .5% and maximum curves of 10 degrees. Boiler diameter was 80" I.D. and 86" O.D. The firebox was 114.125" by 84.25". The tube length was 19' - 3". The number of tubes was 219 at 2" dia.; Superheater was 38 at 5.375" dia.


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 800 (Locobase 14274)

Data from []; and American Locomotive Company builder's card for Order No. B-1671, February 1925, supplied in June 2019 by Steve Low through an email. (Many thanks to Steve Low for filling the hole.) Works numbers were 66165-66166 in January 1925, 66274-66275 in February, and 66276 in March.

Locobase 14273 describes the basic design of this Alco logging Mikado. It began its varied career on Long-Bell, which was based in Ryderwood, WA. The 803 was sent to Longview Lumber's Portland & Northern Railway. In 1947, the LP&N added a tender and operated the engine even as it went back to Long-Bell, which was later bought out by International Paper in 1956. By 1959, the engine was idled as a stationary boiler at the Longview sawmill.

Eventually, the 803 was owned by the Puget Sound Railway Historical Assn of Longview, WA.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class800
Locobase ID14274
RailroadLong-Bell Lumber
CountryUSA
Whyte2-8-2ST
Number in Class5
Road Numbers800-803
GaugeStd
Number Built5
BuilderAlco-Brooks
Year1925
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)13.25 / 4.04
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)27.83 / 8.48
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.48
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)27.83 / 8.48
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)120,500 / 54,658
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)168,000 / 76,204
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)168,000
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)2000 / 7.58
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)1000 / 3785
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)50 / 25
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)44 / 1118
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)190 / 13.10
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)18" x 24" / 457x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)28,541 / 12946.00
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.22
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)120 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)19 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)12.50 / 3.81
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)113 / 10.50
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)25.20 / 2.34
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1225 / 113.85
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)260 / 24.16
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1485 / 138.01
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume173.27
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation4788
Same as above plus superheater percentage5650
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area25,335
Power L18139
Power MT595.63

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