2-8-0 "Consolidation" Steam Locomotives in the USA

Kansas City, Mexico & Orient


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 701/2559 (Locobase 16649)

Data from ATSF Assorted Steam Locomotive Diagrams supplied in August 1913 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange collection. (Thanks to Kevin Bunker for his 20 October 2023 email asking about the AT&SF's 2559.)

Kevin Bunker was puzzled when he couldn't find the 2559 class in Locobase. His hunch that this sextet came to the Santa Fe from the KCM&O. But in its original configuration, the 701s shown here were delivered to the Lake Shore & Michigan Soutbern in 1901; Locobase 15836 shows that class.

When the New York Central rationalized its engine numbers across its system, it added 7000 to all the LS&MS engines. In 1923, the NYC sold this set to the St Louis & Hannibal, whcih passed them on to the KCM&O.

Four years later, the Wichita shops rebuilt the engines, most likely with a new boiler. In addition to reconfiguring the tube bundle, the shops converted the firebox to oil-firing and installed outside constant-lead valve gear actuating piston valves. They did not relocate the inside valve chests, so the Orient's mechanical engineer Orris Bilger modifed the Walschaert gear for inside working.

Once the class came under the AT&SF's umbrella, however, they led short lives before being sent to the ferro-knacker. 2564 fell to the torch first in November 1930, four of the remaining five were disposed of in December 1933 with the 763 finishing off the class in January 1934.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class701/2559
Locobase ID16649
RailroadKansas City, Mexico & Orient
CountryUSA
Whyte2-8-0
Number in Class6
Road Numbers701-706/2559-2564
GaugeStd
Number Built
BuilderKCM&O
Year1927
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)17.33 / 5.28
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)25.50 / 7.77
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.68
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)62.19 / 18.96
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)161,500 / 73,255
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)180,500 / 81,874
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)124,500 / 56,472
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)305,000 / 138,346
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)8000 / 30.30
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)3657 / 13,842
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)67 / 33.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)63 / 1600
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)200 / 1380
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)21" x 30" / 533x762
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)35,700 / 16193.27
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.52
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)334 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)15.42 / 4.70
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)148.40 / 13.79
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)43 / 3.99
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2842 / 264.03
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2842 / 264.03
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume236.24
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation8600
Same as above plus superheater percentage8600
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area29,680
Power L16256
Power MT341.60

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