Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain / Rutland 2-8-0 "Consolidation" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 339 (Locobase 3286)

Data from "Compound Consolidation Locomotives for the Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain", Railroad Gazette, Volume 30, No 6 (11 February 1898), p. 93 See also Dimensions and Classifications of Locomotives of the NYC&HR et al, September 1905, p. 339-340. (Thanks to Wes Barris of steamlocomotive.com for his 28 June 2018 email reporting the missing metric equivalents to cylinder diameter and stroke.) A list of Schenectady production compiled by Robert Lehmuth (and supplied to Locobase in August 2013 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange) lists the class's works numbers as 4645-4647 in December 1897.

Firebox heating surface includes 11.5 sq ft (1.07 sq m) of arch tubes.

Schenectady heavily promoted the cross-compound version of two-stage expansion during the 1890s, but with little long-lasting success in North America. Outside of articulated compound Mallets, locomotives that started out as compounds were soon converted to simple-expansion. So it was for these three Consolidations.

According to Lehmuth's meticulous recounting, the three engines were soon modified as 19" x 28" simple-expansion engines; see Locobase 14561. They later served on the Rutland as their 550-552.


Class 339 /550 /G-14 (Locobase 14561)

Data from Dimensions and Classifications of Locomotives of the NYC&HR et al, September 1905, p. 337.

This diagram book reflected the New York Central's assumption of control over the Rutland in 1905. By that time, the cross-compound setup with which the locomotives had been driven when they were delivered in 1897 (Locobase 3286) had been replaced by the two simple-expansion cylinders shown in the specs.

When the New York Central gained operating control of the "Rut" in 1905, it renumbered them first as 2424-2426, then 2402-2404.

When local interests regained control of the Rutland in 1913, they renumbered the engines 10-12. As such, the class served the railroad until 1934 with the 11 and 12 being retired in January and the 10 in June of that year.


Class G-34A (Locobase 14574)

Data from 1925 Rutland Locomotive Diagram book digitized at Middlebury College in Vermont and made available on the Web at [], p. 27. Works numbers were 43037-43042 in 1907.


Class G-34B (Locobase 14573)

Data from 1925 Rutland Locomotive Diagram book digitized at Middlebury College in Vermont and made available on the Web at [], p. 28. Works numbers 48012-48014 in 1910.

Although the diagram shows the tube length as 16 feet even, the heating surface areas indicate the same tube lengths as the G-34A--15 feet 8 inches.


Class G-34C/D (Locobase 11701)

Data from the Digital Collections at Middlebury (College in Vt) at []. G-34D works numbers were 53280-53285 in 1913.

These were the latest (and last) Consolidations to be delivered new to the Rutland. A picture sent to Locobase by Chris Hohl in April 2013 shows the 28 as semi-streamlined for the Whippet fast freight service begun in the 1930s. The cosmetic treatment consisted of a valence mounted on the running board starting at the back of the cab and extending down the steps on either side of the smokebox. "RUTLAND" in gold leaf identifies the railroad. The color band continued rearward to adorn the tender.

It's an attractive update that gives a Canadian Pacific feel to an otherwise typical freight 2-8-0.


Class G-34a, b, c, d (Locobase 14572)

Data from 1925 Rutland Locomotive Diagram book digitized at Middlebury College in Vermont and made available on the Web at [], p. 29. Schenectady works numbers were 43037-43042 in 1907, 48011-48014 in 1910, 50150-50151 in 1911, and 53280-53285 in 1913.

These high-boilered Consolidations served the Rut a long time with only the 22 retiring before World War II began (October 1939, a month after Germany invaded Poland). Five others--17-21--operated into the late 1940s and the rest saw out steam on the Rutland , retiring in 1951-1952.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class339339 /550 /G-14G-34AG-34BG-34C/D
Locobase ID3286 14561 14574 14573 11701
RailroadOgdensburg & Lake Champlain (Rutland)Ogdensburg & Lake Champlain (Rutland)Rutland (Rutland)Rutland (Rutland)Rutland (Rutland)
CountryUSAUSAUSAUSAUSA
Whyte2-8-02-8-02-8-02-8-02-8-0
Number in Class32638
Road Numbers339-3412424-2426/2402-2404/10-1218-2315-1724-31/2424-2431
GaugeStdStdStdStdStd
Number Built32638
BuilderSchenectadySchenectadyAlco-SchenectadyAlco-SchenectadyAlco-Schenectady
Year18971897191419101913
Valve GearStephensonStephensonStephensonStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)15 / 4.5715 / 4.5717 / 5.1817 / 5.1817 / 5.18
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)22.83 / 6.9622.83 / 6.9625.75 / 7.8525.75 / 7.8525.75 / 7.85
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.66 0.66 0.66 0.66 0.66
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)49.92 / 15.2249.92 / 15.2260.12 / 18.3260.12 / 18.3260.12 / 18.32
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)135,500 / 61,462135,500 / 61,462187,000 / 84,822188,000 / 85,275188,500 / 85,502
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)153,000 / 69,400153,000 / 69,400211,000 / 95,708213,000 / 96,615214,000 / 97,069
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)93,000 / 42,184147,400 / 66,860147,400 / 66,860147,400 / 66,860
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)246,000 / 111,584358,400 / 162,568360,400 / 163,475361,400 / 163,929
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)4000 / 15.154000 / 15.157500 / 28.417500 / 28.417500
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 7.50 / 710 / 912 / 1112 / 1112
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)56 / 2856 / 2878 / 3978 / 3979 / 39.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)54 / 137254 / 137263 / 160063 / 160063 / 1600
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)200 / 13.80200 / 13.80195 / 13.40195 / 13.40195 / 13.40
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)22" x 28" / 559x711 (1)19" x 28" / 483x71122.5" x 30" / 572x76222.5" x 30" / 572x76222.5" x 30" / 572x762
Low Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)34" x 28" / 864x711 (1)
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)30,073 / 13640.9031,821 / 14433.7839,958 / 18124.6739,958 / 18124.6739,958 / 18124.67
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.51 4.26 4.68 4.70 4.72
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)306 - 2" / 51306 - 2" / 51209 - 2" / 51211 - 2" / 51216 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)30 - 5.375" / 13730 - 5.375" / 13730 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)13 / 3.9613 / 3.9615.67 / 4.7815.67 / 4.7815.67 / 4.78
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)173.60 / 16.13162 / 15.05188 / 17.47188 / 17.47182 / 16.91
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)30.80 / 2.8630.80 / 2.8650.23 / 4.6750.23 / 4.6750.20 / 4.67
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2243 / 208.382245 / 208.572551 / 236.992576 / 239.322600 / 241.64
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)537 / 49.89537 / 49.89538 / 50
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2243 / 208.382245 / 208.573088 / 286.883113 / 289.213138 / 291.64
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume364.22244.29184.72186.53188.27
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation61606160979597959789
Same as above plus superheater percentage6160616011,46011,46011,453
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area34,72032,40042,89242,89241,523
Power L13806598412,34112,37812,383
Power MT247.70389.44581.97580.61579.31

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

ClassG-34a, b, c, d
Locobase ID14572
RailroadRutland (Rutland)
CountryUSA
Whyte2-8-0
Number in Class20
Road Numbers2414-2431/14-31
GaugeStd
Number Built20
BuilderAlco-Schenectady
Year1907
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)17 / 5.18
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)25.75 / 7.85
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.66
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)60.12 / 18.32
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)187,000 / 84,822
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)211,000 / 95,708
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)147,400 / 66,860
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)358,400 / 162,568
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)7500 / 28.41
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)12 / 11
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)78 / 39
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)63 / 1600
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)195 / 13.40
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)22" x 30" / 559x762
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)38,201 / 17327.70
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.90
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)392 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)16 / 4.88
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)188 / 17.47
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)50.23 / 4.67
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)3453 / 320.79
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)3453 / 320.79
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume261.59
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation9795
Same as above plus superheater percentage9795
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area36,660
Power L16814
Power MT321.33

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