2-4-4 Steam Locomotives in the USA

Class 50 (Locobase 7121)

Data from Schenectady Locomotive Works, Illustrated Catalogue of Simple and Compound Locomotives (Philadelphia: J B Lippincott, 1897), pp. 190-191; and C&EI 6 - 1904 locomotive diagram book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 13 August 2018 email noting the Schenectady catalogue entry.) Works numbers were 3501-3502 in June 1891.

The second set of commuter tanks resembled the 1887 batch produced by Hinkley (Locobase 7122), but came from Schenectady. Like the first group, the design had the firebox was suspended behind the last axle. They also show three equal-sized domes, two sand domes flanking the single steam dome.

Chris Hohl's pointer to the Schenectady catalogue revealed two signficant differences. One was the driver diameter, orginally reported by Locobase as 59" due to an unclear diagram, and the other was a water tank capacity of 1,600 US gallons (6,056 litres). The C&EI apparently increased available supply during the 50-51's careers.

Both of these were sold for scrap, 50 in September 1906, 51 in February 1907.

Class 62 (Locobase 7122)

Data from C&EI 6 - 1904 locomotive diagram book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 8 November 2019 email noting the road number changes to 65, its subsequent conversion to an 0-4-4T, and related changes to boiler pressure and loaded weight.) Works numbers were 1703-1706 in February 1887.

Like other Chicago-area railroads of the time, the C&EI competed enthusiastically for the area's growing commuter traffic. And like the others, the railroad adopted wheel arrangements suitable for double-ended running. The first quartet were these tanks, which were actually rather large for the wheel arrangement. The firebox was suspended behind the last axle. They also show three equal-sized domes, two sand domes flanking the single steam dome.

Schenectady delivered two more of the same wheel arrangement and very nearly the same

Renumbered 1703-1706, the first three were sold to equipment resellers in 1906-1907 (Hicks Locomotive & Car, Southern Iron & Equipment, and AC Torbert, respectively).

1706's immunity from disposal meant several number changes. It took new number 600 in 1910 and 1600 in 1911. One year later, the shops removed the front truck. As a shop engine, it received a new boiler pressed to 150 psi (10.35 bar) and in 1925 and a number-- A750--presumably reflected its non-mobile status. Hohl reported that its weight increased to 80,760 lb (36,632 kg).