Weirton Steel Company 0-6-0 "Switcher" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 102 (Locobase 15005)

Data from Roy V Wright (Ed.) 1922 Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice, Sixth Edition (New York: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company, 1922), p. 999. Works numbers were 58808-58809 in 1919.

Weirton, WVa was the home of this giant steel mill, which opened in 1909. National Steel Corporation acquired it in 1929.

When the mill looked ready to close in the early 1980s, WSC employees initiated an employee-takeover plan in 1983. Although having to resort to public stock offerings that reduced the employees' share in 1994 to 49%, the works remained open into the 21st century.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class102
Locobase ID15005
RailroadWeirton Steel Company
CountryUSA
Whyte0-6-0
Number in Class2
Road Numbers102-103
GaugeStd
Number Built2
BuilderAlco-Schenectady
Year1919
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)11.50 / 3.51
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)11.50 / 3.51
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase1
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)41.50 / 12.65
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)163,000 / 73,936
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)163,000 / 73,936
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)98,000 / 44,452
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)261,000 / 118,388
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)91 / 45.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)50 / 1270
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)22" x 26" / 559x660
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)38,507 / 17466.50
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.23
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)158 / 14.68
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)28 / 2.60
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2042 / 189.71
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2042 / 189.71
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume178.50
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation5040
Same as above plus superheater percentage5040
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area28,440
Power L13713
Power MT150.66

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