Columbia & Nehalem River 2-6-2 "Prairie" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 120 (Locobase 14314)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 52, pp. 398+ and Vol 62, p. 29 . Works number was 43213 in April 1916 and 49223 in July 1918.

Like many logging companies, the C&NR bought small Mikados and saddle-tank Prairies. These were two of the latter, presumably preferred in certain settings for its shorter wheelbases.

124 essentially repeated the 120's design, but increased oil fuel capacity to 750 US gallons (2,839 litres). Weight on the drivers decreased slightly to 90,000 lb (40,823 kg) while total engine weight increased to 120,650 lb (54,726 kg).


Class 125 (Locobase 14315)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 62, pp. 32+ . Works number was 52790 in January 1920.

When the C&NR went back to Baldwin for another saddle tank logging Prairie, they nearly doubled the size of the boiler and grate as well as the water supply in the tank. The boiler was still saturated and the cylinder volume increased by very little, so the power available to the engine wasn't much greater.

After 17 years with the C&NR, the 125 was sold to the Santa Maria Valley where it ran for another ten years before being scrapped in 1947.


Class 126 (Locobase 14316)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 71, pp. 32+ . Works number was 57636 in February 1924.

Apparently deciding that going bigger with in its saddle-tank Prairies (Locobase 14315) didn't deliver the results they were hoping for, the C&NR revisited the smaller engines shown in Locobase 14314, but superheated them. It was a tidy installation in a boiler of the same diameter. At the cost of exactly half of the original number of small tubes, the 126 garnered a good superheater area for more effective power. The adhesion wheelbase and weight remained effectively unchanged, which allowed the 126 to operate in the same environment.

But the 126 served the Kerry Line and its successor, K P Timber. In 1932, two different lumber companies set fire to their slash piles (accumulated logging debris) to get rid of them. The first turned into the Tideport fire. The second, started by K-P Timber to meet the requirements of the Fire Protection Association, did not threaten a similar escape for about a week because of damp conditions. Then, according to the history cited above," it too got out of control and then joined with the Tideport fire."

The result was a definitive disaster. "While much of the fire occurred over already logged lands, it destroyed 23 of the 35 Kerry Line trestles--7 on the mainline and 16 on the spurs south of Buster Camp. Logging operations were halted for the balance of 1932 and many of the spurs, now cut off by burned trestles were abandoned." K-P limped along for another 5 years but closed in 1938.

126 eventually went to Crossett Western as their second #7. CW sold the 7 to Consolidated Timber, who sent it along to Todd Shipbuilding, which presumably operated the engine during the war years before scrapping it in 1947.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class120125126
Locobase ID14314 14315 14316
RailroadColumbia & Nehalem RiverColumbia & Nehalem RiverColumbia & Nehalem River
CountryUSAUSAUSA
Whyte2-6-2ST2-6-2ST2-6-2ST
Number in Class212
Road Numbers120, 124125126
GaugeStdStdStd
Number Built212
BuilderBaldwinBaldwinBaldwin
Year191619201916
Valve GearStephensonWalschaertWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)10 / 3.0511 / 3.3510 / 3.05
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)25.75 / 7.8526.58 / 8.1026.50 / 8.08
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.39 0.41 0.38
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)25.75 / 7.8526.58 / 8.1026.50 / 8.08
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)91,000 / 41,277103,000 / 46,72092,000 / 41,731
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)118,000 / 53,524133,000 / 60,328120,500 / 54,658
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1600 / 6.063500 / 13.261600 / 6.06
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)550 / 20821200 / 4542800 / 3028
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)51 / 25.5057 / 28.5051 / 25.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)44 / 111844 / 111844 / 1118
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)165 / 1140160 / 1100165 / 1140
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 24" / 432x61018" x 24" / 457x61017" x 24" / 432x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)22,109 / 10028.4924,035 / 10902.1122,109 / 10028.49
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.12 4.29 4.16
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)152 - 2" / 51255 - 2" / 5176 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)13 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)13.54 / 4.1312.50 / 3.8113.54 / 4.13
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)80 / 7.43145 / 13.4782 / 7.62
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)14.40 / 1.3426.10 / 2.4314.40 / 1.34
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1151 / 106.971821 / 169.24864 / 80.30
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)228 / 21.19
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1151 / 106.971821 / 169.241092 / 101.49
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume182.41257.57136.93
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation237641762376
Same as above plus superheater percentage237641762875
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area13,20023,20016,371
Power L1297442256378
Power MT216.15271.30458.51

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