Western Maryland J-1 Class

The Western Maryland J-1 class, also known as the Potomac, was a class of twelve 4-8-4 "Potomac" (Northern) type steam locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1947. They were operated by the Western Maryland Railway (WM) in revenue service until the mid-1950s. Like most railroads in the South, the WM did not choose the more common name "Northern", going with the name "Potomac" for their 4-8-4s instead.

Western Maryland J-1
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 73082-73093 Build date January 1947
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-4  • UIC 2′D2′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 69 in (1,753 mm) Axle load 72,500 lb (36.3 short tons) for drivers Adhesive weight 290,000 lb (145.0 short tons) Loco weight 506,500 lb (253.3 short tons) Tender weight 421,500 lb (210.8 short tons) Total weight 928,000 lb (464.0 short tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 60,000 lb (30.0 short tons) Water cap. 22,000 US gal (83,000 L; 18,000 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 106.7 sq ft (9.91 m2) Boiler Firetube Boiler pressure 255 lbf/in2 (1.76 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 573 sq ft (53.2 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 2,170 sq ft (202 m2) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 26.5 in × 32 in (673 mm × 813 mm) Valve gear Walschaert Valve type Piston valves
Performance figures Power output 4,700 hp (3,500 kW) (Drawbar) @ 45 mph Tractive effort 70,591 lbf (314.00 kN) Factor of adh. 4.11
Career Operators Western Maryland Railway Class J-1 Number in class 12 Numbers 1401-1412 Nicknames Potomac Retired By 1954 Disposition All scrapped

They were built to haul freight on the WM mainline and all were retired by 1954.

History

The Western Maryland Railway (WM) was the last North American railroad to adopt the 4-8-4 "Northern" type, and as a railroad that primarily ran within the Southeastern United States, the WM chose to call their 4-8-4s "Potomacs", as named after the Potomac River. These new locomotives were the last new steam locomotives the WM purchased, and as such, they were very modern, efficient and powerful, as well as having relatively large boilers. They also held Timken roller bearings on every driver and tender axle and on the back end of the eccentric rod. All link motion pins used needle bearings.^[1] When running at forty-five miles per hour, the "Potomacs" had nearly the same performance as the larger M-2 class 4-6-6-4 "Challenger" types.^[2] On the 1.75% grade west out of Cumberland, Maryland, the Potomacs were limited 1,180 tons unassisted.^[3] On level trackage, they were capable of running upwards while pulling 5,500 tons, with an 8,000-ton limit for downhill journeys.^[4]

Disposition

Due to coming when most railroads were starting to dieselize, the "Potomacs" did not have long careers, being in service for only seven years before being retired and put into storage in Hagerstown and Cumberland in 1954.^[5] They remained there until 1957, when the equipment trusts ran out and were subsequently scrapped. None of the J-1s have been preserved.^[6]

References

1. "Western Maryland Railway: Map, History, Roster, Logo". American-Rails.com. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
2. "Western Maryland 4-8-4 "Northern" Locomotives in the USA". SteamLocomotive.com. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
3. "Maryland Junction/B164". www.wmwestsub.us. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
4. "Grassroots Railroad Sports?". grassrootsmotorsports.com. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
5. "Richard Leonard's Random Steam Photo Collection -- Western Maryland 4-8-4 1406". www.railarchive.net. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
6. "Pictures of WM 1411". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2022-03-17.