4-8-4 "Northern" Steam Locomotives in the USA

Class Q1 (Locobase 259)

Data from DL&W7 - 1933 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also American Locomotive Company Builder's Card for Order No. B-1705; and Robert A LeMassena, "The USRA Heavy 4-8-2 and its Illustrious Ascendants", Railway & Locomotive Historical Society Newsletter (Vol 23, #2 - Spring 2003). (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 4 November 2016 email that included the Alco-Brooks builder's card supplying the original tender specs.) Works numbers were 67526-67530 in 1927.

In his study of the USRA Heavy Mountain (Locobase 232) and the locomotives it inspired, LeMassena notes that the DL&W had procured five 4-8-2s based on the USRA design but equipped with larger fireboxes ( Locobase 5731). Soon the railroad came back for still bigger descendants of the basic design that needed another axle under the firebox. Thus were erected the first DL&W 4-8-4s. The two rear carrying axles. The front set used 35" (889 mm) diameter wheels, 16" (406 mm) smaller than the rear set, which measured 51" (1,295 mm).

Firebox heating surface area included 28 sq ft (2.6 sq m) in arch tubes and 88 sq ft (8.18 sq m) more in thermic syphons. Piston valves measured a relatively modest 12" (305 mm) in diameter in cast-steel cylinders. The quintet's 77" (1,956 mm) driver diameter was unequalled in any of the other DL&W 4-8-4s

These were delivered with tenders holding 14 ton of coal and weighed 216,000 lb (97,976 kg). Mechanical stoker was the Standard Type B.

Called Poconos, this group of five engines led the way for 50 more; see Locobases 260,

9246, and 924.

Unlike every other US 4-8-4 design, the D&LW Qs (see also 260) adopted the smaller 5 3/8" (136.5 mm) flues for its Type A superheater tubes. All others using Type As had 5 1/2" (140 mm) flues.

Class Q2 (Locobase 260)

Data from DL&W 3 - 1938 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also "Pocono Type Locomotive for Freight Service", Railway Journal, Volume 35, No 5 (May 1929), pp. 18-19. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 22 March 2018 email correcting the road number range and the boiler pressure and supplying the builder's card showing data for Alco order no. S-1641.) Alco works numbers ran in a batch: 67799-67818.

The next step in the DL&W's Pocono parade belonged to this dual-traffic design. Simliar in most respects to the Brooks-built Q1 (Locobase 259), the new class had smaller drivers and were expected to haul fast freights as well as passenger trains. The RJ said that the design was "expected to out-perform any other fast freight engines in the country when it comes to handling heavy fast freight trains on fast schedules, as they are the last word in steam motive power for freight service."

Firebox had 110.5 sq ft (10.25 sq m) of thermic syphons and 27.5 sq ft (2.55 sq m) of arch tubes contributing to the heating surface. RJ reported on the integrally cast engine bed that comprised an impressive set of components: cylinders, frames, pilot beams, coupler pockets, cross braces, cradle frames, truck and trailer guide supports and rear bumper drawbar pockets. The bed was made of low carbon steel and weighed 58,115 lb (26,361 kg). Both leading and trailing trucks were also unit castings as was the water bottom tender frame. This latter offered more water capacity than earlier designs.

The two rear trailing axles was housed in separate trucks. The front set used 35" (889 mm) diameter wheels, 16" (406 mm) smaller than the rear set, which measured 51" (1,295 mm).

NB: Unlike every other US 4-8-4 design, the D&LW Qs (see also 259) used the smaller 5 3/8" flues for its Type A superheater elements. All others using Type As had 5 1/2" flues.

Class Q3/Q3a (Locobase 9246)

Data from DL&W 3 - 1938 and 1940 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange collection. See also Robert A LeMassena, "The USRA HEAVY 4-8-2 and its Illustrious Ascendants", Railway & Locomotive Historical Society Newsletter (Vol 23, #2 - Spring 2003). (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 21 August 2019 email discussing the roller bearing, weight differences, and power reverse fitments.) Works numbers were 68623-68632 in June 1932.

This class represented a big boiler redesign compared to the Q2s that had preceded it only a few years earlier (see Locobase 260). Superpower dimensions had arrived: the number of firetubes shrank dramatically while scores of new, smaller-diameter flues for the Type E superheated resulted in an 69% increase in supeheater area (or more than 900 sq ft/83.61 sq m). The firebox saw little change and had 110 sq ft (10.22 sq m) of thermic syphons and 27 sq ft (2.51 sq m) of arch tubes contributing to the heating surface. The class also introduced the Worthington 5-S feed water heater with a 9,000 US gallon (34,065 litres)/hour capacity. The DL&W estimated resulting reductions as 5-8% in coal and 3-5% in water.

Also, LeMassena notes, the Q3s pioneered roller bearings on the Lackawanna. Hohl reports that the first five (Q3) sported SKF roller bearings on the lead trucks, Timkens on the lead trucks in 1626-1628. The last five (Q3a) were fitted with Timken roller bearings on all engine axles. Ultimately, the entire class would be fitted with Alco G-1 power revere gear. Like all of the other Lackawanna 4-8-4s, the cylinders used 12" (305 mm) piston valves to deliver steam.

Chris Hohl's notes show that Q3s put 1,000 lb (454 kg) more weight on the drivers than did the Q3a, but 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) less on the four non-powered axles. By 1940, all ten locomotives were classified as Q3s, although they retained their original sets of roller bearings.

Class Q4 (Locobase 9247)

Data from DL&W 3 - 1938 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also Robert A LeMassena, "The USRA HEAVY 4-8-2 and its Illustrious Ascendants", Railway & Locomotive Historical Society Newsletter (Vol 23, #2 - Spring 2003). (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 9 April 2018 email pointing out several differences between the first 18 Q4s and the last 2 Q4a.) Works numbers were 68661-68680 in October-December 1934.

The last variant of the DL&W's sizable 4-8-4 stud, the Q4 also sported a superpower boiler on a slightly smaller scale than the Q3 (Locobase 9246), but pressed to a higher degree. The firebox, too, was a bit smaller with 95 sq ft (8.82 sq m) of thermic syphons and 27 sq ft (2.5 sq m) of arch tubes contributing to the heating surface. Driver diameter increased by 4" and the Q4s also traveled onTimken roller bearings on all engine axles.

Worthington's 5-SA feed water heater offered a 9,000 US gallon (34,065 litres)/hour capacity. As in the Q-3s (which had the 5-S type), DL&W estimated resulting quantities as 5-8% in coal and 3-5% in water. Chris Hohl's examination of the Q4a's diagram showed that this last pair used Elesco exhaust steam injectors, a different model of Barco force-feed lubricator, and SKF roller bearings in all engine axles.)

LeMassena says: "Although intended for fast freight trains between Buffalo and Binghamton, New York, these locomotives handled perishables eastward to Hoboken, New Jersey, returning westward on mainline passenger trains."