Chicago & North Western Northerns

The Chicago & North Western needed more motive power for its main line operations and in 1929 received 35 very large 4-8-4s from the Baldwin Locomotive Works. These Class H Northerns (road numbers 3001 through 3035) were put to work replacing double-headed Pacifics on fast freight and passenger trains.

Because of their size and weight, these new locomotives were restricted to the 488 mile Omaha - Chicago main line. They were some of the largest 4-8-4s ever built weighing in at 498,000 pounds. The tractive effort was 65,200 lbs at a boiler pressure of 250 psi as originally delivered, but later the pressure was raised to 275 psi increasing the tractive effort to 71,800 lbs. The drivers were 76" in diameter and the cylinders were 27" x 32".

In 1940. the entire fleet underwent a rebuild to include lightweight rods, boxpok drivers and roller bearings on all axles. In the late 1940s, 24 of them underwent another rebuild and were given new nickel - steel frames, new cylinders, pilot beams and air reservoirs, new fireboxes and many other minor improvements. These were reclassified as Class H-1.

Unfortunately, there are no surviving Chicago & North Western Northerns.

Specifications for Classes H & H-1
Wheel Arrangement:	4-8-4
Length:	103' -4"
Drivers:	76" dia.
Weight on Drivers:	288,000 lbs
Locomotive Weight:	498,000 lbs
Locomotive & Tender Weight:	818,000 lbs
Grate Area:	100 sq ft
Cylinders (dia. x stroke):	(2) 27" x 32"
Boiler Pressure:	275 psi
Tractive Effort:	71,800 lbs
Tender Capacity:	18,000 gals. of water and 20 tons of coal.

Note The length of the Class H-1s was 103' - 5"

Chicago & North Western Northerns

Photos

References