Baltimore & Ohio 2-8-8-0 "Consolidation Mallet" Type Locomotives

Class EL-1/EL-2/EL-3/EL-5 (Locobase 439)

Alvin F Staufer & Lawrence W Sagle, B & O Power (1964). Data from Record of Recent Construction #91 (Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1918), p.32-33.

Baldwin works numbers were:

EL-3

1916

January 42832; February 42854-42855; March 43047-43049, 43071-43073; April 43140, 43148-43150, 43275; May 43289

1917

July 45989; August 46112, 46164; September 46267, 46406; October 46677, 46713; December 47282, 47391, 47489

1918

January 47650; February 47746, 47852, 47950; March 48026, 48067, 48130, 48194; April

48277-48279; May 48577, 48682; June 48901, 48902, 48940, 49086-49087; July 49308, 49400; August 49545

EL-5

1919

September 52371, 52425; November 52464-52468, 52518-52520, 52552-2555, 52598-52605; December 52642-52645

Baldwin reported that these huge locomotives were intended for the 2.4% grades in the Cumberland Division, over which they would haul long, loaded trains of coal cars. The design used a combination of 14" piston valves for the HP cylinders and Allen balanced slide valves for the LP cylinders. Definitely intended for main-line service, these big articulateds were able to negotiate curves as sharp as 22 deg. Total weight distribution varied by only 1,100 lb between the front and rear engine units.

Several classes beginning with 15 EL-1 (1916) and followed by 15 EL-2 (7200-7214 in 1916), 30 EL-3 (7115-7144 in 1917) and 26 EL-5 (7145-7170 in 1919-1920) -- all by Baldwin. All surviving locomotives were converted from 1927 on after the prototype demonstrated a considerable improvement in pulling power.

The last of these left service in 1954.

Class EL-3a/EL-5a (Locobase 305)

Data from tables in 1930 Locomotive Cyclopedia.

These were B&O rebuilds of B&O compound Mallets (Locobase 439) to 4-cylinder simple-expansion machines beginning in 1927. 64 engines were converted altogether, all to the same powerful standard. Compared to the EL-6a conversion (Locobase 3556), these locomotives didn't work quite so hard, but steamed as easily. Smaller drivers undoubtedly confined them to hill work, where they served until the early 1950s.

Class EL-6a (Locobase 3556)

These were simpled conversions of SAL 2-8-8-2s that had come onto the B&O in 1922. They had a relatively high driver diameter and a hard-worked, but relatively free-steaming boiler. The last of these left service in 1954.

Wiener (1930) for data.

Specifications
ClassEL-1/EL-2/EL-3/EL-5EL-3a/EL-5aEL-6a
Locobase ID4393053556
RailroadBaltimore & Ohio (B&O)Baltimore & Ohio (B&O)Baltimore & Ohio (B&O)
Whyte2-8-8-02-8-8-02-8-8-0
Road Numbers7100-71707100-71707300-7315
GaugeStdStdStd
BuilderBaldwinB & OB & O
Year191619271920
Valve GearWalschaertWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase15.50'15.50'15.46'
Engine Wheelbase50.33'50.33'53.33'
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheebase 0.31 0.31 0.29
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender)82.61'82.61'98.27'
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle)58000 lbs
Weight on Drivers462500 lbs459400 lbs456700 lbs
Engine Weight485600 lbs484400 lbs492000 lbs
Tender Light Weight206400 lbs262000 lbs219000 lbs
Total Engine and Tender Weight692000 lbs746400 lbs711000 lbs
Tender Water Capacity12000 gals18000 gals12000 gals
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal)20 tons18 tons20 tons
Minimum weight per yard of rail on which locomotive could run96 lb rail96 lb rail95.15 lb rail
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter58"58"63"
Boiler Pressure210 psi210 psi225 psi
Cylinders (dia x stroke)26" x 31"24" x 32" (4)25" x 32" (4)
Tractive Effort91993 lbs113452 lbs121429 lbs
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 5.03 4.05 3.76
Heating Ability
Firebox Area393 sq. ft341 sq. ft398 sq. ft
Grate Area88.17 sq. ft88.17 sq. ft88 sq. ft
Evaporative Heating Surface583657845922
Superheating Surface141514151380
Combined Heating Surface725171997302
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume306.36172.60162.87
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation185161851619800
Same as above plus superheater percentage222192221923541.99
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area9903685932106473.99
Power L188001225113210.39
Power MT335.58470.33510.16

Reference

Credits

Introduction and specifications provided by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media.