Lake Champlain & Moriah 2-8-2 "Mikado" Locomotives in the USA

Class 16 (Locobase 11766)

Data from "Recent Baldwin Locomotives," Railway Age, Vol 41 (8 June 1906), pp.930-931 and Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volumes 29, p. 52 and 30, p. 226. Works numbers were 27900 in April 1906 and 30905 in May 1907.

The RA report described the stiff requirements demanded by the LC & M. (See Locobase 11765 for a brief description of this upstate New York railroad.): 250 tons up a 4% grade and around 14-degree curves - without rack adhesion! Frictional resistance was to be no more than 15 lb per ton.

An unusual suspension feature was the use of coiled springs to transfer the weight borne by the equalizing beam working the rear driven axle and the rear truck to the engine frame. Another odd arrangement was the placing of the crosshead on the same plane as the center line of the steam chest, thus moving the combination lever inside the crosshead guides. Note that at this time, the engines still used balanced slide valves rather than piston valves.