Cotton Belt 4-4-2 "Atlantic" Type Locomotives

Class E1 (Locobase 3483)

These were delivered with slide valves and Stephenson gear, but later refitted with piston valves, superheaters, and Walschaerts outside valve gear. Westcott (Model Railroading Cyclopedia Vol 1, 1960) comments that this small class "broke rules because they were built as late as 1909 with narrow fireboxes, small drivers, and slide valves -- all rare features as Atlantics go." Drury (1993) provides insight when he notes "they were not so much Atlantics as they were Americans with trailing axles."

Part of the secret of their longevity may have lain in the relatively large boiler and firebox heating surface in these engines. With superheating, these engines look as though they probably never ran out of steam.

Specifications
ClassE1
Locobase ID3483
RailroadCotton Belt (StLSW)
Whyte4-4-2
Road Numbers600-605
GaugeStd
BuilderBaldwin
Year1909
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase 6.25'
Engine Wheelbase26.09'
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheebase 0.24
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender)58.60'
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle)52900 lbs
Weight on Drivers105800 lbs
Engine Weight195000 lbs
Tender Light Weight169600 lbs
Total Engine and Tender Weight364600 lbs
Tender Water Capacity7000 gals
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal)3200 gals
Minimum weight per yard of rail on which locomotive could run88 lb rail
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter70"
Boiler Pressure185 psi
Cylinders (dia x stroke)21" x 26"
Tractive Effort25758 lbs
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.11
Heating Ability
Firebox Area216 sq. ft
Grate Area31.20 sq. ft
Evaporative Heating Surface2109
Superheating Surface496
Combined Heating Surface2605
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume202.34
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation5772
Same as above plus superheater percentage6926
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area47952
Power L115848
Power MT660.47

Credits

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