Texas South-Eastern 2-6-2 "Prairie" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 11 (Locobase 13950)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 43, p. 251 and Vol 48, p. 307.. See also The History Center of Diboll, Texas at [link]. Works numbers were 34346 in September 1912 and 40461 in September 1913.

The 12's specification has a typical notation for a Baldwin Prairie headed for a logging tram road:"Spring rigging throughout engine and tender to be extra heavy for very roughest service and track." The 11's equalizers and springs had proven too weak, according to the spec.

The 11 served the Southern Pine Lumber Company until it was scrapped in 1957. The 12 was sold to Pickering Lumber Company. Renumbered 25, the engine served for years more. It was scrapped in May 1939.


Class 14 (Locobase 13856)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification C - 6159 as archived at The History Center of Diboll, Texas at [link], last accessed 12 February 2012. See also DeGolyer, Volume 62, pp. 401+. Works number was 52359 in September 1919.

This small logging Prairie's cylinders were supplied through 8" (203 mm) piston valves. Although its tender was lettered for Southern Pine Lumber Company, the engine ran on the SPLC's railway. In that service, it confronted ruling grades of 1 to 3% and maximum grades (probably on spurs) of 6%.

By 1936, the 14 had moved to Temple Lumber Company.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class1114
Locobase ID13950 13856
RailroadTexas South-EasternTexas South-Eastern
CountryUSAUSA
Whyte2-6-22-6-2
Number in Class21
Road Numbers11-1214
GaugeStdStd
Number Built21
BuilderBaldwinBaldwin
Year19121919
Valve GearWalschaertWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)10.25 / 3.1210 / 3.05
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)26.83 / 8.1826 / 7.92
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.38 0.38
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)50.67 / 15.4447.25 / 14.40
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)87,400 / 39,64481,000 / 36,741
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)114,200 / 51,800107,000 / 48,534
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)90,000 / 40,823110,000 / 49,895
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)204,200 / 92,623217,000 / 98,429
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)4500 / 17.053500 / 13.26
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)6 / 61200 / 4542
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)49 / 24.5045 / 22.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)44 / 111848 / 1219
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)170 / 1170180 / 1240
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 24" / 432x61016" x 24" / 406x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)22,778 / 10331.9419,584 / 8883.16
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.84 4.14
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)200 - 2" / 51102 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)15 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)13.75 / 4.1913.33 / 4.06
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)121 / 11.24110 / 10.22
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)18.20 / 1.6916.50 / 1.53
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1552 / 144.181091 / 101.39
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)222 / 20.63
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1552 / 144.181313 / 122.02
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume245.96195.17
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation30942970
Same as above plus superheater percentage30943475
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area20,57023,166
Power L142629374
Power MT322.52765.41

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