Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 27, p. 209. See also [], last accessed 8 September 2025. Works number was 25121 in February 1905.
This industrial Mogul first served Frank Nelson, Jr's Empire Coal & Coke Company in Shelby County, Alabama. He and the Steiner Brothers formed the company in 1904 to follow through on the exploitation of the Black Creek and Jefferson seams of the Warrior coal field in eastern Walker County.
Baldwin's specification shows a requirement to haul 600 short tons up a 1 1/2% grade on 60 lb/yard (30 kg/metre) rails. A train of empties would encounter a maximum 2% grade; when pulling a loaded train from the mines, the maximum grade topped out at 1/7%. The spec also noted: "to run as much backward as forward", which meant its tender had a sloping back like a switcher.
Nelson sold out his shares in Empire Coal in 1915. At about the same time, Empire Coal sold the #2 to Birmingham Rail & Locomotive in May 1916. The locomotive reseller quickly found a buyer in Republic Iron & Steel Company roster of Sayreton, Alabama, which was located just north of North Birmingham.
| Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media | |
|---|---|
| Class | Frank Nelson, Jr |
| Locobase ID | 12761 |
| Railroad | Empire Coal & Coke Company |
| Country | USA |
| Whyte | 2-6-0 |
| Number in Class | 1 |
| Road Numbers | 2 |
| Gauge | Std |
| Number Built | 1 |
| Builder | Burnham, Williams & Co |
| Year | 1905 |
| Valve Gear | Stephenson |
| Locomotive Length and Weight | |
| Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) | 12 / 3.66 |
| Engine Wheelbase (ft / m) | 19.92 / 6.07 |
| Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase | 0.60 |
| Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m) | 39.96 / 12.18 |
| Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg) | |
| Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg) | 112,450 / 51,007 |
| Engine Weight (lbs / kg) | 128,200 / 58,151 |
| Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg) | 70,000 / 31,752 |
| Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg) | 198,200 / 89,903 |
| Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML) | 3500 / 13.26 |
| Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) | |
| Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m) | 62 / 31 |
| Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort | |
| Driver Diameter (in / mm) | 50 / 1270 |
| Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa) | 180 / 1240 |
| High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm) | 19" x 24" / 483x610 |
| Tractive Effort (lbs / kg) | 26,512 / 12025.66 |
| Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) | 4.24 |
| Heating Ability | |
| Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm) | 259 - 2" / 51 |
| Flues (number - dia) (in / mm) | |
| Flue/Tube length (ft / m) | 11.25 / 3.43 |
| Firebox Area (sq ft / m2) | 140.70 / 13.08 |
| Grate Area (sq ft / m2) | 22.28 / 2.07 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 1654 / 153.72 |
| Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2) | |
| Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 1654 / 153.72 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume | 209.90 |
| Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information) | |
| Robert LeMassena's Power Computation | 4010 |
| Same as above plus superheater percentage | 4010 |
| Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area | 25,326 |
| Power L1 | 4488 |
| Power MT | 263.97 |