Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio 2-8-8-2 "Chesapeake" Locomotives in the USA

Class L-1 (Locobase 1318)

Data from 1948 Clinchfield locomotive diagram book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also DeGolyer, Volume 56, p. 459+. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 28 March 2016 email noting the "as-built" tender capacities and weights.) Works numbers were 51477, 51558 in March 1919; 51679 in April; 51768 in May; 51868, 51906, 51976 in June.

Had slightly more tractive effort than the L-2s, which were USRA designs (Locobase 330); the L-1s were ordered on 31 March 1917, but were put in production two years later. The class was delivered with a tender weighing 180,000 lb (81,647 kg) that held 10,000 US gallons (37,850 litres) of water and 15 tons (13.6 tonnes) of coal.

Included in the direct heating surface area was the 132 sq ft (12.25 sq m) of combustion chamber and the 45 sq ft (4.2 sq m) of the five arch tubes. Even with a 5 1/2-foot long combustion chamber, the boiler still contained 24-foot long tubes and flues. Even so, the L-1 had to be a slow-speed engine because its boiler needed to fill its large HP cylinder volume.

One unusual feature was the different diameters of piston valves for the two different cylinder volumes served. HP cylinders had 15" (381 mm) piston valves while the LPs used 17" (432 mm) piston valves.

Operated until 1948-1950.

Class L-2 (USRA) (Locobase 1320)

Data from Clinch 1943ca Locomotive Diagram supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also DeGolyer, Volume 58, pp. 186+; and American Locomotive Company, "Standardized Locomotive Built for the United States Railroad Administration, Pamphlet No 10049 (New York: American Locomotive Company, 1919), reprinted 1973 by Specialty Press (Ocean [sic, should be Ocean Township), New Jersey. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 21 June 2023 email correcting the adhesion, engine, and total wheelbases). Works numbers were 52285-52286, 52327-52329, 52348-52349, 52370, 52395 in September 1919; 52450 in November.

Standard USRA design (Locobase 330) based on N&W Y-2 Mallet compound locomotive and delivered to the Clinchfield in 1919. Unlike the light articulateds, the "heavy" was considered a great success. These had 14" (356 mm) piston valves on all cylinders. 85 sq ft (7.90 sq m) in the combustion chamber and 49 sq ft (4.55 sq m) of arch tubes contributed to firebox heating surface area. Two Hancock No. 13 injectors had a 7,500 US gallon (28,388 litre) capacity.

Ten more entered service in 1923 as L-3 (Locobase 1321). This class operated until 1950-1952.

Class L-3 (USRA) (Locobase 1321)

Data from Clinch 1943ca Locomotive Diagram supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. Works numbers were 65041-65050 in December 1923.

Follow-ups to the earlier ten built to the USRA heavy articulated design (Locobase 1320). These were essentially similar, but came from Brooks rather than Baldwin. Two slightly earlier locomotives were sold instead to the Interstate Railroad as their 20-21. They had longer wheelbases. (See Locobase 6441.)

Operated until 1951-1952, except for engine 740, whose boiler exploded in April 1948. She was soon scrapped.