Louisville & Nashville 2-8-4 "Berkshire" Type Locomotives

Class M-1 (Locobase 49)

Firebox had 3 thermic syphons for a combined 124.3 sq ft. Nicknamed "Big Emmas" The epitome of the fast freight locomotive at the end of the steam era. One long-time engineer noted that they could handle passenger and freight service and that they were very quiet because of the extensive use of roller bearings. Charles B.Castner (in Drury, 1993), compares them to the road's 2-8-2s: "Vastly higher boiler capacity, larger fireboxes, cast steel frames and cylinders, roller bearings, and 12-wheel tenders gave the M-1s greater horsepower to work heavy trains at higher speeds on 12% less fuel."

On the Eastern Kentucky line, notes Castner, these engines regularly managed 124-car, 9,500-ton coal trains alone between Neon and DeCoursey, using helpers only on the Jackson and Ravenna grades. On the Cumberland Valley and Cincinatti Divisions, the tonnage rating was 8,300.

Specifications
ClassM-1
Locobase ID49
RailroadLouisville & Nashville (L & N)
Whyte2-8-4
Road Numbers1950-1991
GaugeStd
BuilderSeveral
Year1942
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase18.20'
Engine Wheelbase42.30'
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheebase 0.43
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender)93.42'
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle)
Weight on Drivers268200 lbs
Engine Weight447200 lbs
Tender Light Weight303000 lbs
Total Engine and Tender Weight750200 lbs
Tender Water Capacity22000 gals
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal)24 tons
Minimum weight per yard of rail on which locomotive could run111.75 lb rail
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter69"
Boiler Pressure265 psi
Cylinders (dia x stroke)25" x 32"
Tractive Effort65290 lbs
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.11
Heating Ability
Firebox Area463.30 sq. ft
Grate Area90.20 sq. ft
Evaporative Heating Surface4654
Superheating Surface1908
Combined Heating Surface6562
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume255.99
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation23903
Same as above plus superheater percentage30853.16
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area158473.03
Power L140468.75
Power MT1330.62

Reference

Credits

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

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