Western Pacific Mikados

The Western Pacific Railroad purchased 36 “Mikados”, from the American Locomotive Company, all of the same basic design. These locomotives arrived on the WP in seven small groups beginning with five in 1918, continuing with five more in 1919, five in 1921, six in 1923, five in 1924, five in 1926 with the last five arriving in 1929. They were designated as Class MK-60 and assigned road numbers 301-332. The Class MK-60 locomotives had 63” drivers, 28” x 30” cylinders, a 190 psi boiler pressure and they exerted 60,300 pounds of tractive effort. In addition to the 36 ALCO built 2-8-2s there was five Baldwin built 2-8-2s added to the roster in 1918. These locomotives were allocated by the USRA Makado-Light and were designated as Class MK-55 and given road numbers 321-325. The WP sold these five locomotives to the Wabash in 1920 and assigned numbers 321-325 to the MK-60s bought in 1923 and 1924.

There is one surviving Western Pacific 2-8-2 “Mikado” type locomotives. It is road number 334 and it is currently in storage at the Western Railway Museum in Vista Junction, CA.

WP 2-8-2 Roster
ClassRoad ClassQty.Road NumbersYear BuiltBuilderNotes
MK-603015301-3051918ALCO
MK-555321-3251919Baldwin1
MK-603065306-3101919ALCO2
MK-603115311-3151921ALCO
MK-603166316-3211923ALCO3
MK-603225322-3261924ALCO3,4
MK-603275327-3311926ALCO3,4,5
MK-603325332-3361929ALCO3,4,5

Notes
  1. These locomotives were allocated by USRA. They were USRA Makado-Light and were given road numbers 321-325 in order to save room for more Class MK-60 locomotives. The WP sold these five locomotives to the Wabash in 1920.
  2. Numbers 306-310 were bought from Elgin, Joliet & Eastern in 1920.
  3. Oil Burners.
  4. Numbers 322-332 had Delta trailing truck boosters, which increased the tractive effort by 11,000 pounds.
  5. Numbers 327-336 had large 12 wheel tenders.

Specifications
Road Numbers301-305306-310311-315316-321322-326327-331332-336
Wheel Arrangement:2-8-22-8-22-8-22-8-22-8-22-8-22-8-2
Length:84’-0”82’-3”83’-11”83’-11”84’-0”84’-0”84’-0”
Drivers:63” dia.63” dia.63” dia.63” dia.63” dia.63” dia.63” dia.
Weight on Drivers:242,000 lbs.239,000 lbs.246,000 lbs.246,000 lbs.245,000 lbs.248,000 lbs.249,000 lbs.
Total Locomotive Weight:316,000 lbs.320,000 lbs.323,000 lbs.315,000 lbs.327,000 lbs.333,000 lbs.332,000 lbs.
Locomotive & Tender Weight:553,000 lbs.531,000 lbs.538,000 lbs.506,000 lbs.519,000 lbs.594,000 lbs599,000 lbs.
Grate Area:70.3 sq ft.70.3 sq. ft.70.3 sq. ft.
Cylinders (dia. x stroke):(2) 28” x 30”(2) 28” x 30”(2) 28” x 30”(2) 28” x 30”(2) 28” x 30”(2) 28” x 30”(2) 28” x 30”
Boiler Pressure:190 psi190 psi190 psi190 psi190 psi190 psi190 psi
Tractive Effort:60,300 lbs.60,300 lbs.60,300 lbs.60,300 lbs.60,300 lbs.60,300 lbs.60,300 lbs.
Tender Capacity:
Water:12,000 gals.12,000 gals.12,000 gals.10,000 gals.10,000 gals.15,000 gals.15,000 gals
Coal/Oil:21 ½ tons19 tons19 ½ tons4,000 gals.4,000 gals.4,000 gals.4,000 gals.

Photos

References

Much thanks to Richard Duley who has helped to provide a great deal of the information found on this page.
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