Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley 4-4-0 "American" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class Cooperstown / C-29 (Locobase 14543)

Data from Dimensions and Classifications of Locomotives of the NYC&HR et al, September 1905, p. 325. See also "History of the C&CV" on the Cooperstown & Charlotte Valley museum road site at [link] and See also DeGolyer, Vol 16, p. 36. Works number was 10840 in April 1890.

One of the stipulations in the specifications was a guarantee that the 3 would manage 325-350 tons up a 1% grade at "slow speed".

Baldwin built several Eight-wheelers with these dimensions in 1890, each for a different road. This one was headed for a central New York State short line that was built to encourage the Ulster & Delaware's owner Thomas Cornell to continue a westward extension from Bloomville to Oneonta.

A few months before the namesake engine was delivered, the C&CV tracklayers reached Davenport Center. All construction stopped soon afterward when Thomas Cornell died and his nephew, Edwin Young, stepped in as executor. According to the Leatherstocking Railway Historical Society account, Young's influence was sufficient to block any further competition.

Passenger service between Cooperstown and Davenport Center continued for a few years but ended in 1903. The U&D and the C&CR would eventually meet, but in West Davenport.

The 3 passed into Delaware & Hudson hands when that road acquired the Cooperstown branch. After being renumbered 397, then 415, the engine was sold in October 1905 to the Carolina & North Western as their 115. The C&NW scrapped the 115 in May 1932.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassCooperstown / C-29
Locobase ID14543
RailroadCooperstown & Charlotte Valley
CountryUSA
Whyte4-4-0
Number in Class1
Road Numbers3
GaugeStd
Number Built1
BuilderBurnham, Parry, Williams & Co
Year1890
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 8.25 / 2.51
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)22.17 / 6.76
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.37
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)45.17 / 13.77
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)50,000 / 22,680
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)80,000 / 36,287
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)52,000 / 23,587
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)132,000 / 59,874
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)2800 / 10.61
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)5 / 5
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)42 / 21
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)63 / 1600
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)130 / 900
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 24" / 432x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)12,166 / 5518.41
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.11
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)188 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)10.96 / 3.34
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)110 / 10.22
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)16.57 / 1.54
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1185 / 110.09
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1185 / 110.09
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume187.80
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation2154
Same as above plus superheater percentage2154
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area14,300
Power L13753
Power MT330.96

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