2-6-2 "Prairie" Steam Locomotives in the USA

Class 100 (Locobase 14262)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 52, p. 278+. (Many thanks to Chris Hohl's 4 August 2015 email providing the tender's wood capacity and his comments on Harbeson company numbers prompted a review of several entries.) Works numbers were 41920 in February 1915, 42703 in December, and 42782 in January 1916

Almost immediately after the 2-4-2ST shown in Locobase 14261 was delivered to Harbison at De Funiak Springs, Fla as their engine #100, they took delivery of the wood-burning, tender-pulling logging Prairies shown here. Their tenders carried 3 cords of wood. There was no 101.

NB: DeFuniak Springs was named for Colonel Fred DeFuniak, an official of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad.

Class 104 (Locobase 14268)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 73, p. 387+. Works numbers were 58680 in September 1925.

Locobase 14267 describes the first two superheated, coal-burning logging Prairies delivered to DeFuniak Springs, Fla in 1920. The third superheated engine reverted to wood-burning and saw the bundle of tubes and flues shortened by 18 inches (457 mm) as well as trimming the grate area. Raising the boiler pressure by 10 psi did not completely offset the impact of adopting less cylinder volume and taller drivers. Like the earlier engines, the cylinders on the 104 were fed steam through 8" (203 mm) piston valves.

104 was later sold to Peavy Wilson and still later scrapped in 1951.