The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's K-4 class were a group of ninety 2-8-4 steam locomotives purchased during and shortly after World War II.[1] Unlike many other railroads in the United States, the C&O chose to nickname this class "Kanawha", after the river in West Virginia, rather than "Berkshire", after the region in New England.
Quick Facts Type and origin, Power type ...
Chesapeake & Ohio K-4 |
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Type and origin |
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Power type | Steam |
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Designer | Advisory Mechanical Committee |
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Builder | |
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Build date | 1943–1947 |
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Total produced | 90 |
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Specifications |
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Configuration:
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• Whyte | 2-8-4 |
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• UIC | 1′D2 h2 |
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Gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
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Leading dia. | 33 in (83.820 cm) |
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Driver dia. | 69 in (1.753 m) |
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Trailing dia. | 36 in (91.440 cm) (Lead) 43 in (109.220 cm) (Trail) |
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Tender wheels | 36 in (91.440 cm) |
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Minimum curve | 288 ft (88 m) radius / 20° |
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Wheelbase | 93 ft 2 in (28.40 m) |
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Length | 105 ft 1+7⁄8 in (32.05 m) |
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Width | 10 ft 10 in (3.30 m) |
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Height | 15 ft 7+1⁄2 in (4.76 m) |
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Axle load | 73,000 lb (37 short tons) to 73,600 lb (36.8 short tons) |
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Adhesive weight | 292,000 lb (146 short tons) to 293,100 lb (146.6 short tons) |
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Loco weight | 460,000 lb (230 short tons) to 469,680 lb (234.84 short tons) |
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Tender weight | 388,030 lb (194.02 short tons) to 394,100 lb (197.1 short tons) |
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Total weight | 850,000 lb (420 short tons) to 863,780 lb (431.89 short tons) |
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Tender type | 21-RG |
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Fuel type | Coal |
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Fuel capacity | 30 short tons (27 t) |
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Water cap. | 21,000 US gal (79,000 L; 17,000 imp gal) |
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Firebox: | |
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• Grate area | 90 sq ft (8.4 m2) |
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Boiler:
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• Model | Fire Tube |
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• Diameter | 98 in (2,489 mm) |
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• Tube plates | 19 ft (6 m) |
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Boiler pressure | 245 lbf (1.09 kN) |
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Feedwater heater | Worthington 5 1/2 SA 10,200 US gallon / hr capacity |
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Heating surface: | |
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• Firebox | 465 sq ft (43.2 m2) |
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• Tubes and flues | 4,308 sq ft (400.2 m2) |
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• Total surface | 4,773 sq ft (443.4 m2) |
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Superheater:
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• Type | Type E |
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• Heating area | 1,932 sq ft (179.5 m2) |
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Cylinders | Two, outside |
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Cylinder size | 26 in × 34 in (660 mm × 864 mm) |
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Valve gear | Baker |
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Valve type | Piston valves |
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Valve travel | 8 in (203 mm) |
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Valve lap | 1+11⁄16 in (43 mm) |
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Valve lead | 3⁄16 in (5 mm) |
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Train heating | Steam heat |
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Loco brake | Pneumatic, Schedule 8-ET |
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Train brakes | Pneumatic |
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Performance figures |
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Maximum speed | 80 mph (129 km/h) |
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Tractive effort | 69,350 lbf (308.48 kN) (Engine) 14,000 lbf (62.28 kN) (Booster) 83,350 lbf (370.76 kN) (Total) |
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Factor of adh. | 4.21-4.23 (Engine) 4.6 (Booster) |
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Career |
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Operators | Chesapeake and Ohio Railway |
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Numbers | 2700–2789 |
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Nicknames | Kanawha Big Mike |
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Retired | 1952–1957 |
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Preserved | Twelve (Nos. 2700, 2705, 2707, 2716, 2727, 2732, 2736, 2755, 2756, 2760, 2776, 2789) preserved; remainder scrapped |
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Restored | Ongoing with No. 2716 |
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Disposition | No. 2716 undergoing restoration, 11 on display, remainder scrapped |
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10 preserved built by ALCO and 2 preserved built by Lima |
Close
Several examples survive today, including at the National Railroad Museum, Science Museum of Virginia, Chief Logan State Park, and B&O Railroad Museum.