Firebox heating surface included 5 arch tubes with a total of 60 sq ft of area.
The most powerful 4-8-4s to run for any railroad, and one of the finest steam locomotive designs ever produced, the Js combined large cylinders, high steam pressure, and low drivers to generate a high tractive effort. Available power increased when boiler pressure was raised later to 300 psi, yielding an indicated tractive effort of 80,000 lb. J-class engines 605-610, built in 1943, had to forego the lightweight side rods and roller bearings that had graced the first five engines, but they were refitted with both after World War II.
The Js were famed for their dual-service capability, pulling long freights and running passenger trains at 90 mph. Automatic lubrication at over 200 points and roller bearings everywhere (axles, main & side rods, valve gear, wrist pins) permitted 15,000-mile/month usage and 1 1/2 year intervals between shop visits.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Class | J |
| Locobase ID | 271 |
| Railroad | Norfolk & Western |
| Whyte | 4-8-4 |
| Road Numbers | 600-613 |
| Gauge | Std |
| Builder | N&W |
| Year | 1943 |
| Valve Gear | Baker |
| Locomotive Length and Weight | |
| Driver Wheelbase | 18.75' |
| Engine Wheelbase | 47.30' |
| Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheebase | 0.40 |
| Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) | 95.40' |
| Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) | |
| Weight on Drivers | 288000 lbs |
| Engine Weight | 494000 lbs |
| Tender Light Weight | 378600 lbs |
| Total Engine and Tender Weight | 872600 lbs |
| Tender Water Capacity | 22000 gals |
| Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) | 26 tons |
| Minimum weight per yard of rail on which locomotive could run | 120 lb rail |
| Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort | |
| Driver Diameter | 70" |
| Boiler Pressure | 275 psi |
| Cylinders (dia x stroke) | 27" x 32" |
| Tractive Effort | 77899 lbs |
| Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) | 3.70 |
| Heating Ability | |
| Firebox Area | 578 sq. ft |
| Grate Area | 107.70 sq. ft |
| Evaporative Heating Surface | 5271 |
| Superheating Surface | 2177 |
| Combined Heating Surface | 7448 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume | 248.56 |
| Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information) | |
| Robert LeMassena's Power Computation | 29617.50 |
| Same as above plus superheater percentage | 38274.49 |
| Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area | 205410.01 |
| Power L1 | 41990.54 |
| Power MT | 1285.74 |
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