Barclay Coal / Butler County 2-6-0 "Mogul" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 3 (Locobase 13273)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 31, p. 191. See also William N Barron, "Development of Cut-Over Timber Land in Missouri and Arkansas", The American Sugar Family, Volume 1, No 11 (13 December 1920), pp. 2-5 and "They Traveled by Train", Butler County Historical Society at [link], last accessed 16 October 2011. Works numbers were 32713 in February 1908 and 33648 in August 1909.

These two Moguls operated on 60 lb/yard (30 kg/metre) rail that had curves as sharp as 23 degree (250 ft/76 metres radius).

Barron describes the construction of the Butler County as the result of a demand for sugar-barrel staves and headings by the Brooklyn Cooperage Company. To supply that need, the Great Western Land Company was organized to buy timber land on both sides of the state line dividing Missouri from Arkansas (about 150 square miles altogether). Beginning in 1899, the operation had cut most of the timber by 1920.

Poplar Bluff was the processing center for the timber and the 50-mile-long BCRR was chartered in 1905. While a section of land was being logged, it did not serve a common-carrier role. "fter the removal of the timber on both sides of the track for a stretch ol say five or six miles, each section running through the denuded land was conveyed to the Butler County Railroad and opened for public service generally."

The phrase "denuded land" is Barron's. He describes in detail how the timber-free land was prepared for agricultural use.

The railroad ran passenger service from Poplar Bluff to Brosely, Melville, Fagus, and Piggott.. As the Butler County history noted: "Trains were the fastest means of transporation and often the only way to get from town to town in this once swampy part of the southeast Missouri area." The BCRR was sold to the St Louis-San Francisco in 1927.


Class James MacFarlane (Locobase 11993)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 17, p. 97. Works number was 12129 in August 1891.

This Mogul served several rural roads, beginning with this 16-mile short line that linked Barclay with Towanda, Penna. The #2 was named for the company's first general superintendent.

After a few years, the 2 went to Humphrey Manufacturing Company of Brookville. The HMC sold the engine in 1903 to the Central Pennsylvania Lumber Company, where it served until 1930.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class3James MacFarlane
Locobase ID13273 11993
RailroadButler CountyBarclay Coal
CountryUSAUSA
Whyte2-6-02-6-0
Number in Class21
Road Numbers3, 52
GaugeStdStd
Number Built21
BuilderBurnham, Williams & CoBurnham, Williams & Co
Year19081891
Valve GearStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)11.50 / 3.5110.50 / 3.20
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)19.33 / 5.8918.42 / 5.61
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.59 0.57
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)92,000 / 41,73173,000 / 33,112
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)107,000 / 48,53483,000 / 37,648
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)70,000 / 31,752
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)177,000 / 80,286
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3500 / 13.262600 / 9.85
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)51 / 25.5041 / 20.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)50 / 127050 / 1270
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 1240130 / 900
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)18" x 24" / 457x61017" x 24" / 432x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)23,795 / 10793.2415,329 / 6953.13
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.87 4.76
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)200 - 2" / 51184 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11 / 3.3511.96 / 3.65
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)118.90 / 11.0592 / 8.55
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)20.70 / 1.9220.30 / 1.89
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1263 / 117.341222 / 113.57
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1263 / 117.341222 / 113.57
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume178.64193.66
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation37262639
Same as above plus superheater percentage37262639
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area21,40211,960
Power L139412888
Power MT283.32261.66

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