C&O L-2
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Build date1941
Total produced8
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-6-4
  UIC2′C2′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.78 in (1.981 m)
Length108 ft 0 in (32.92 m)
Adhesive weight217,500 lb (98,700 kg; 98.7 t)
Loco weight439,500 lb (199,400 kg; 199.4 t)
Total weight832,500 lb (377,600 kg; 377.6 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity60,000 lb (27,000 kg; 27 t)
Water cap.21,000 US gallons (79,000 L; 17,000 imp gal)
Firebox:
  Grate area90 sq ft (8.4 m2)
Boiler pressure255 psi (1.76 MPa)
Heating surface4,233 sq ft (393.3 m2)
Superheater:
  Heating area1,810 sq ft (168.2 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size25 in × 30 in (635 mm × 762 mm)
Career
OperatorsChesapeake and Ohio Railway
Numbers300–307
Retired1953
DispositionAll scrapped
C&O L-2-A
Type and origin
Only differences from L-2 above are shown
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Build date1948
Total produced5
Specifications
Driver dia.78 in (1.981 m)
Length108 ft 0 in (32.92 m)
Adhesive weight219,500 lb (99,600 kg; 99.6 t)
Loco weight443,000 lb (201,000 kg; 201 t)
Total weight836,000 lb (379,000 kg; 379 t)
Career
OperatorsChesapeake & Ohio Railway
Numbers310–314
Retired1955-1958
Scrapped1959

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's class L-2 comprised eight coal-fired 4-6-4 "Hudson" type steam locomotives numbered 300–307 and built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1941. They had roller bearings on all axles, and the first-built, No. 300, also had roller bearings on its side and main rods. No. 300 bore "Elephant ear" smoke deflectors from 1948.

In 1947, the C&O ordered five additional and very similar locomotives, numbering them 310–314; these were class L-2-A and differed mostly in using Franklin RC poppet valves instead of the Baker valve gear of the L-2s. These were the last express passenger steam locomotives ordered by a United States railroad, and some of the most expensive at $353,346 each, 80% more than the cost of the 8 earlier L-2 locomotives.

Both classes were among the largest 4-6-4s ever built, and they were even more powerful than the C&O's L-1 class. The heaviest were the C&O's L2a class at 443,000 lbs,[1] They were intended to work the C&O's top-flight express trains on level ground; the railroad purchased 4-8-4 "Greenbrier" types for mountain service.

By 1953, C&O passenger services were wholly dieselized, and there was no more work for these locomotives to do. Hudson locomotives were very unsuited to freight work, with such a comparatively small proportion of their weight on the drivers. All the L2’s and L2a’s were quickly scrapped by 1953.

References

  1. Keefe, Kevin (Fall 2023). "Heaviest Hudson: Chesapeake & Ohio's L2a". Classic Trains. No. 3 Vol 24. Kalmbach Media. p. 9.

Notes

  1. ^ Huddleston, Eugene L. (Jan–Feb 2002). "The outstanding features and many lives of C&O 614". Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Magazine. Archived from the original on 2006-06-21. Retrieved 2006-01-11.
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