Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" Locomotives in the USA

Class 30 (Locobase 7116)

Data from RF&P 1916 locomotive diagram book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. Works numbers were 2937-2938, 3120-3121 in 1900; 3144-3145 in 1901

According to Drury (1993), this Ten-wheeler sextet reflected the RF&P's need to run freights nearly as fast as passenger trains. A 62" driver would satisfy both service requirements if the operator wasn't looking for express speeds.

Ever-larger and heavier trains meant these locomotives were no longer suitable for the RF&P. A relatively new and powerful 4-6-0 could serve short lines for years and all six enjoyed second careers.. The Georgia & Florida took the 30-31 in 1916, renumbering them 201-202 in 1920. 32 went to the High Point, Thomasville & Denton in North Carolina and the Morgantown & Wheeling of West Virginia bought the 33-35 in 1923..

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Class 36 (Locobase 7117)

Data from RF&P 1916 locomotive diagram book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also DeGolyer, Volume 23, p. 265. Works numbers were 18786-18787 in March 1901.

Although virtually identical to the six Richmond engines of a year earlier (Locobase 7116), these Baldwins had slightly smaller fireboxes and put 3 1/2 tons less weight on the drivers. Later, the RF&P raised the boiler pressure setting to 200 psi (13.8 bar), increasing initial tractive effort to 25,740 lb (114.5 kN). The specs called for the ability to bore out the 19" cylinders to 20", but the original cylinder volume never changed.

Like the Richmonds, these were sold in June 1916 to the Georgia & Florida, which renumbered them 203-204 in 1920. 204 was scrapped in September 1935, but 203 was sold in April 1935 to the Appalachicola Northern as their 150.

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Class 38/106 (Locobase 7115)

Data from RF&P 1916 locomotive diagram book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. Works numbers were 26860-26864, 27655-27656 in March 1903; 26921-26923 in November.

This was the passenger variant of a modest class of Ten-wheelers on the RF&P. The freight variant appears in Locobase

Although they were not superheated, the 101s only started retiring in 1930. Most were gone by the end of the decade, but a couple served through World War II.