Akron & Barberton Belt 2-6-0 "Mogul" Locomotives in the USA

Class 3 (Locobase 12620)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 25, p. See also "Akron Barberton Belt Railroad History" page of the Akron Canton & Youngstown Railroad Historical Society website, last accessed 22 April 2018 at []. Works number was 21104 on October 1902.

This was a slope-backed tender engine for transfer duties in the Akron area operated by the newly consolidated successor to the Barberton Belt Railroad Co; Cleveland, Barberton & Western Railroad; and the Barberton, Akron & Eastern Belt Line Railway. The main line connected Akron with its southwestern suburb of Barberton and a branch begun by the BA&EBL was finished in 1904. It extended north from Barberton to the junction with the Akron, Canton & Youngstown.

The ACYHS website comments that its destination --White's Grocery--wasn't an accident: "White's Grocery, long a gathering spot for traders and Saturday shoppers from local farms, was located at what is now the intersection of E. Market Street and Massillon Road."

Four railroads--Northern Ohio (succeeded by the Akron, Canton & Youngstown), Baltimore & Ohio, Erie, and Pennsylvania each owned 25% of the A&BB's common stock. By 1918, the A&BB operated 23.11 miles (37.2 km) of main line and an additional 21.83 miles (35.1 km) of sidings.

Class 4 (Locobase 11598)

Data from George L Fowler, Locomotive Dictionary (Chicago: Railroad Age Gazette, 1909), Figure 35. See also DeGolyer, Volume 28, p. 254 and DeGolyer, Volume 36, p.4. Works number was 27440 in February 1906.

Barely a month after Baldwin diverted the A&BB's first #4 to the Gulf & Ship Island (Locobase 16347), it produced this slightly different Mogul for the railroad.

Compared to the earlier engine, this locomotive had 15 more, shorter tubes (for less tube heating surface area) and 5 sq ft (0.47 sq m) more firebox heating surface area from a slightly deeper firebox. Driver diameter remained the same at a transfer-engine 56". The Baldwin specs include a maximum curve radius of 32 degrees on 60-lb/yard (30-kg/metre) rail.

Locobase 16545 shows the next Mogul, which rolled on 50" drivers.

Class 5 (Locobase 16545)

Data from George L Fowler, Locomotive Dictionary (Chicago: Railroad Age Gazette, 1909), Figure 35. See also DeGolyer, Volume 36, p.4. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 12 May 2021 email led Locobase to correct his 2-6-0 entries for the A&BB and add another to fill in a gap.) Works number was 35434 in October 1910.

In 1910, the A&BB concluded that their Moguls had the right proportions (Locobase 11598), but needed smaller drivers to help with adhesion when switching trains in their yards. Other than some weight increase, the design was otherwise the same.

In 1913, the A&BB would further modify the design; see Locobase 13693.

Class 6 (Locobase 13693)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 53, p. 234. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 12 May 2021 email adjusting adhesion, engine, and loaded tender weights Works numbers were 39275 on February 1913, 42692 in December 1915, and 42867 in February 1916.

The Baldwin specs include a maximum curve radius of 32 degrees on 60-lb/yard (30-kg/metre) rail. The 1913 Mogul differed from its 1906 predecessor (Locobase 11598) in a few details: the link motion was replaced by constant-lead radial valve gear, the firebox was a bit deeper, and the weight climbed by several tons.

Given that this engine, like the others, was used primarily in switching, the extra weight certainly increased the factor of adhesion.

The A&BB bought two more Moguls of the same design, numbering them 7 and 1. Their tenders held 7,600 US gallons (28,766 litres) and 10 tons (9.1 metric tons) coal.