Rahway Valley 2-4-4 Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 7 (Locobase 12884)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 32, p. 238. See also "Tank Engine for the Rahyway Valley", Railway and Locomotive Engineering (September 1908), p. 375. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 6 March 2018 email correcting the coal bunker capacity.) Works number was 32817 in June 1908.

The RVRR was a New Jersey shortline that used this tank engine on the passenger service that wound around 17-deg (223-ft) curves and faced 2% grades. It was the only engine the RVRR ever bought new.

The RLE report commented that the "...four-wheel rear truck improves the riding qualities, permits the use of ample fuel and water capacity without placing an excessive amount of weight on the rear wheels."

By the mid-teens, the 7 had moved on to the US Army Supply Base at Kearney, NJ (according to Gene Connelly's list of Baldwin locomotives). The RVRR roster page at [link] cites Thomas Taber saying that the 7 went to Spain in 1917 and later to Brazil. .

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class7
Locobase ID12884
RailroadRahway Valley
CountryUSA
Whyte2-4-4T
Number in Class1
Road Numbers7
GaugeStd
Number Built1
BuilderBurnham, Williams & Co
Year1908
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)7 / 2.13
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)31.33 / 9.55
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.22
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)31.33 / 9.55
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)70,000 / 31,752
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)136,000 / 61,689
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)2500 / 9.47
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)3 / 3
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)58 / 29
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)56 / 1422
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 24" / 432x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)18,950 / 8595.59
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.69
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)223 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11.58 / 3.53
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)152 / 14.12
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)18.20 / 1.69
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1495 / 138.89
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1495 / 138.89
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume236.93
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation3276
Same as above plus superheater percentage3276
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area27,360
Power L16004
Power MT378.19

All material Copyright © SteamLocomotive.com
Wes Barris