Louisiana Central 2-6-2 "Prairie" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 10 (Locobase 15224)

Data from DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Baldwin Specifications, Vol 71, pp. 293+. See also the TapLine Cases summary archived at [], last accessed 1 June 2013. Works number was 56136 in January 1923.

The W R Pickering Lumber Company was the sole stockholder of this timber harvester. It consisted of two tap lines separated by about 20 miles. The northern segment linked to the Kansas City Southern at Barham, La, where the WRPLC had a mill and extended west about 9.5 miles (15.3 km) to Bayou Toro. The southern division served the mill at Pickering, La and another 19 miles (30.6 km) distant at Cravens, which lay about 1/2 mile from the junction with the Santa Fe. The LC then continued on to Slabtown and Peterton.

The railroad operated as a common carrier between Pickering and Cravens in the south and Barham and Bayou Toro in the north. This relatively large oil-burning Prairie fit the mold of a logging engine, but its capacity told of more expansive demand. Its 11" (279 mm) piston valves and 50" drivers indicate an ability to handle general freight.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class10
Locobase ID15224
RailroadLouisiana Central
CountryUSA
Whyte2-6-2
Number in Class1
Road Numbers10
GaugeStd
Number Built1
BuilderBaldwin
Year1923
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)10 / 3.05
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)27.83 / 8.48
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.36
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)51.62 / 15.73
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)118,000 / 53,524
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)154,000 / 69,853
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)113,500 / 51,483
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)267,500 / 121,336
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)5000 / 18.94
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)2100 / 7949
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)66 / 33
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)50 / 1270
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 12.40
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)20" x 24" / 508x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)29,376 / 13324.75
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.02
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)150 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)24 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)14 / 4.27
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)121 / 11.24
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)29.50 / 2.74
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1684 / 156.51
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)389 / 36.15
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2073 / 192.66
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume192.90
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation5310
Same as above plus superheater percentage6319
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area25,918
Power L19948
Power MT557.58

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