Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 "Berkshire" Type Locomotives

Class K-4 (Locobase 55)

Firebox had 122 sq ft of thermic syphons (2) and arch tubes. Called "Kanawhas" by the railroad, "Big Mikes" by the Chessie drivers. Very similar to Pere Marquette N-1s but heavier and pulling immense tenders. In fact, these K-4s were among the heaviest and longest 2-8-4s in service and were known for good performance. As many as 90 may have been built, at least 40 by Alco, some of the others by Lima.

Farrington (1976) notes a run from Stevens to Russell (95/4,845 tons), then from Russell to Hinton (61/3,170 tons) in which the engine consumed 49,500 gallons of water and 25 tons of coal.

Specifications

Class K-4

Locobase ID 55

Railroad Chesapeake & Ohio (C & O)

Whyte 2-8-4

Road Numbers 2700-2789

Gauge Std

Builder Several

Year 1936

Valve Gear

Locomotive Length and Weight

Driver Wheelbase 18.20'

Engine Wheelbase 42'

Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheebase 0.43

Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) 93.17'

Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle)

Weight on Drivers 292000 lbs

Engine Weight 460000 lbs

Tender Light Weight 312800 lbs

Total Engine and Tender Weight 772800 lbs

Tender Water Capacity 21000 gals

Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) 30 tons

Minimum weight per yard of rail on which locomotive could run 121.67 lb rail

Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort

Driver Diameter 69"

Boiler Pressure 245 psi

Cylinders (dia x stroke) 26" x 34"

Tractive Effort 69368 lbs

Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.21

Heating Ability

Firebox Area 462 sq. ft

Grate Area 90.30 sq. ft

Evaporative Heating Surface 4773

Superheating Surface 1932

Combined Heating Surface 6705

Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume 228.45

Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)

Robert LeMassena's Power Computation 22123.50

Same as above plus superheater percentage 28498.24

Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area 145804.93

Power L1 33000.00

Power MT 996.61

Specifications
Class	K-4
Locobase ID	55
Railroad	Chesapeake & Ohio (C & O)
Whyte	2-8-4
Road Numbers	2700-2789
Gauge	Std
Builder	Several
Year	1936
Valve Gear
	Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase	18.20'
Engine Wheelbase	42'
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheebase	0.43
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender)	93.17'
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle)
Weight on Drivers	292000 lbs
Engine Weight	460000 lbs
Tender Light Weight	312800 lbs
Total Engine and Tender Weight	772800 lbs
Tender Water Capacity	21000 gals
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal)	30 tons
Minimum weight per yard of rail on which locomotive could run	121.67 lb rail
	Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter	69"
Boiler Pressure	245 psi
Cylinders (dia x stroke)	26" x 34"
Tractive Effort	69368 lbs
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort)	4.21
	Heating Ability
Firebox Area	462 sq. ft
Grate Area	90.30 sq. ft
Evaporative Heating Surface	4773
Superheating Surface	1932
Combined Heating Surface	6705
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume	228.45
	Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation	22123.50
Same as above plus superheater percentage	28498.24
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area	145804.93
Power L1	33000.00
Power MT	996.61

Reference

Historic Chesapeake & Ohio Steam Photos (Photos courtesy Yesteryear Depot)
C&O Power, Steam and Diesel Locomotives of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway 1900 - 1965 by Philip Shuster, Eugene L. Huddleston and Alvin Staufer (Alvin Shuster)
Chessie's Road by Charles W. Turner 2nd edition with additions by Thomas W. Dixon, Jr. and Eugene L. Huddleston (2nd edition published by the Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society, Inc.)
Hocking Valley Railway Information Center
Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society

Credits

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