Western & Atlantic 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 51 (Locobase 11783)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 10a, p. 166. Works numbers were 5462, 5465 in January 1881; 5507-5508 in February.

When delivered to the W & A, these Ten-wheelers had the following names:

Greysville, Calhoun, Adairsville, and Acworth. They joined several dozen other locomotives on the Great Kenesaw Route, then headed by Joseph E Brown. Brown had submitted a suspiciously low bid of $25,000 per month in 1871 to win the right to lease run the road for the next 20 years.

The suspicions were well founded and such was the indignation when more details escaped sequestration that Brown had no possibility of renewing his lease in 1890. Thus, the lessees had to surrender the road and most of the locomotives. They were permitted to sell 15, including the 4 in this entry.

51, 52, and 54 all went to the Alabama Midland Railway as their 2, 9, and 7. The AMR began operation in 1887 and ran from Bainbridge, Ga to Sprague, Ala. The AM was incorporated into the Plant System in 1894. The Atlantic Coast Line emerged from the Plant System in 1901 and renumbered these three engines 251, 254, and 252.

53 remained on the road and was taken up by new lessee Nashville, Chattanooga & St Louis. It was placed in class G-017 and numbered 253. Finally, in 1919, the NC & StL sold the 253 to rebuilder/recycler Georgia Car & Locomotive.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class51
Locobase ID11783
RailroadWestern & Atlantic
CountryUSA
Whyte4-6-0
Number in Class4
Road Numbers51-54
Gauge5'
Number Built4
BuilderBurnham, Parry, Williams & Co
Year1881
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)12.83 / 3.91
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)21.92 / 6.68
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.59
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)2200 / 8.33
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)54 / 1372
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)130 / 9
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 24" / 432x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)14,193 / 6437.84
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort)
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)161 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)12.23 / 3.73
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)99.70 / 9.27
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)15.50 / 1.44
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1124 / 104.46
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1124 / 104.46
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume178.13
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation2015
Same as above plus superheater percentage2015
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area12,961
Power L13008
Power MT

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