Staten Island Rapid Transit 2-4-4 Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class R (Locobase 12035)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Vol 18, p.32. Works numbers were 12843-12845 in July 1892.

Typical suburban tank locomotives that pulled SIRT trains until the line was electrified in 1906. All three were then sold to locomotive rebuilder/recyclers, the 16 and 18 bought by Southern Iron & Equipment and 17 by Birmingham Rail & Locomotive. As often happened with former transit tanks, two of the three wound up with logging companies. Ex-16 went to Lodwick Lumber Company of Lodwick, Texas.

Ex-17 had a more involved second life. It operated for Arkansas Milling Company in Turkey Creek , Louisiana for less than a year before being sold back to BL & R in 1913. After its conversion to 2-4-0 tender engine, thsi locomotive was sold to Scott Lumber.

Ex-18 was sold first to Loyalhanna Coal Company, back to SI & E, then to Kaul Lumber in Hollins, Ala, then to BL & R.


Class R (Forney) (Locobase 1442)

Alvin F Staufer & Lawrence W Sagle, B & O Power (1964) says Cooke built 7-15 in 1885 and the railroad's own shops at Clifton followed with 16-22 later on. According to a compilation of Cooke locomotives by B.Rumary (25 Kingscombe, Gurney Slade, Radstock, BA3 4TH, ENGLAND) and supplied to Locobase by Allen Stanley in March 2004, the only 2-4-4Ts for the Staten Island were 10-14 (Cooke works number 1748-1752 in February 1887.)

The essence of the steam-powered "El" locomotive, except these ran on the surface for the SIRT. A Forney locomotive had a short, attached tender that put the trailing truck under both the cab and the tender. Also note how small the drivers were, which was provided the rapid acceleration these engines needed. This Forney was unusual in having a Wootten firebox, which skews the ratios but improved the railroad's ability to use culm and other thin-bed coals.

They were retired by 1928-1929.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassRR (Forney)
Locobase ID12035 1442
RailroadStaten Island Rapid Transit (B&O)Staten Island Rapid Transit (B&O)
CountryUSAUSA
Whyte2-4-4T2-4-4T
Number in Class316
Road Numbers16-187-15, 19-22
GaugeStdStd
Number Built316
BuilderBurnham, Williams & Coseveral
Year18921885
Valve GearStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)8 / 2.447 / 2.13
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)27.08 / 8.2528.25 / 8.61
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.30 0.25
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)27.08 / 8.2528.25 / 8.61
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)32,890 / 14,919
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)65,780 / 29,837
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)80,000 / 36,287100,300 / 45,495
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1200 / 4.551500 / 5.68
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)2 / 2
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)55 / 27.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)50 / 127050 / 1270
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)140 / 970155 / 1070
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)14" x 22" / 356x55914" x 22" / 356x559
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)10,263 / 4655.2211,362 / 5153.72
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 5.79
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)112 - 2" / 51136 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m) 8.67 / 2.64 8.75 / 2.67
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)78 / 7.25135 / 12.55
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)16.50 / 1.5333 / 3.07
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)581 / 54735 / 68.31
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)581 / 54735 / 68.31
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume148.21187.50
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation23105115
Same as above plus superheater percentage23105115
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area10,92020,925
Power L128904646
Power MT311.42

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