Blount-Decker Lumber Company 2-6-2 "Prairie" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 3 (Locobase 14322)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 53 p. 17. See the Texas Forestry Museum Sawmill database's entry on the B-D mill at [link]. Works number was 44501 in December 1916.

B-D was formed by E M Decker and E A Blount to operate a sawmill in Cherokee County north of Alto, Texas (southeast of Dallas, north of Houston). From 1908 to 1922, the mill processsed cut and finished pine, gum, hickory, and white and red oak. The small logging Prairie served the 8-mile (12.9-km), 35 lb/yard (17.5 kg/metre) tram road. In 1917 the company was reported to have 125,000,000 feet of timber available for harvest. At the rate of 75,000 feet a day, the reserve would be depleted in 5 2/3 years.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class3
Locobase ID14322
RailroadBlount-Decker Lumber Company
CountryUSA
Whyte2-6-2
Number in Class1
Road Numbers3
GaugeStd
Number Built1
BuilderBaldwin
Year1916
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 9.17 / 2.80
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)23.75 / 7.24
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.39
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)45.56 / 13.89
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)70,200 / 31,842
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)94,000 / 42,638
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)60,000 / 27,216
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)154,000 / 69,854
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3000 / 11.36
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)6 / 6
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)39 / 19.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)44 / 1118
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)15" x 24" / 381x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)18,777 / 8517.11
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.74
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)160 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11.87 / 3.62
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)86 / 7.99
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)14.10 / 1.31
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1074 / 99.78
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1074 / 99.78
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume218.74
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation2538
Same as above plus superheater percentage2538
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area15,480
Power L14043
Power MT380.91

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