0-8-0 "Switcher" Steam Locomotives in the USA

New York, New Haven & Hartford


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class Y-4a (Locobase 16696)

Data from American Locomotive Company Builder's Card "Class 3-cylinder 080 S 245", Order No. S-1588; and NH 1962 Steam Locomotives supplied in August 2013 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange collection.

Alco explored three-cylinder power arrangements for several customers in the 1920s. Most orders featured variations on a 2-8-2 fast freight or 4-8-2 dual-purpose design, but this all-adhesion eight-coupled heavy switcher was one of a kind.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassY-4a
Locobase ID16696
RailroadNew York, New Haven & Hartford (NYNH&H)
CountryUSA
Whyte0-8-0
Number in Class16
Road Numbers3600-3615
GaugeStd
Number Built16
BuilderAlco-Schenectady
Year1924
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)16 / 4.88
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)16 / 4.88
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase1
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)64.08 / 19.53
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)63,900
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)245,000 / 111,130
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)245,000 / 111,130
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)286,500 / 129,954
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)531,500 / 241,084
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)16,000 / 60.61
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)13 / 16.40
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)102 / 51
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)57 / 1448
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)200 / 1360
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)22" x 28" / 559x711 (3)
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)60,627 / 27499.98
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.04
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)229 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)38 - 5.5" / 140
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)16 / 4.88
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)253 / 23.50
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)56.10 / 5.21
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)3032 / 281.68
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)740 / 68.75
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)3772 / 350.43
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume164.07
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation11,220
Same as above plus superheater percentage13,464
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area60,720
Power L111,265
Power MT405.47

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