Fulton County Narrow-Gauge Railway 4-4-0 "American" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class J C Wilcoxen (Locobase 11801)

Data from "Narrow Gauge Passenger Locomotive from Baldwin Locomotive Works", Railroad Gazette, Number 11, (7 September 1883), pp. 589590. Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 11, p. 77. (Many thanks to Chris Hohl for his 12 November 2020 email spotting the contemporary report in Railroad Gazette and outlining several differences in data.) Works number 6742 in May 1883.

The FCNG Rwy connected Havanna, Ill with Fairview -- 31 miles (50 km) distant -- in 1880; the next 30-mile (48 km) section between Fairview and Galesburg in 1882. The constructors built lightly: the rail weighed 35 lb/yard and the bed was not ballasted. The steepest grade rose 84 ft in a mile (about 1 1/2%) and of the 61 miles, 16 were curved.

The locomotive shown in this entry was identical to those supplied to Merida in Mexico (see Locobase 11790) at nearly the same time. Chris Hohl's discovery of the RG report allowed Locobase to confirm the duplicated design, although weight was a bit higher. RG commented that the 4 was "very neatly designed" and noted that it was exhibited at the 1883 Chicago Exposition of Railway Appliances.

Much later, the 4 travelled to the Little Rock, Saline River & Western as their #3. The LRSR&W reported the 3 out of service by 1932.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassJ C Wilcoxen
Locobase ID11801
RailroadFulton County Narrow-Gauge Railway
CountryUSA
Whyte4-4-0
Number in Class1
Road Numbers4
Gauge3'
Number Built1
BuilderBurnham, Parry, Williams & Co
Year1883
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 7.17 / 2.19
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)18.25 / 5.56
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.39
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)35.58 / 10.84
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)26,000 / 11,793
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)36,000 / 16,329
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1200 / 4.55
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 0.83 / 1
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)22 / 11
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)41 / 1041
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)130 / 970
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)12" x 16" / 305x406
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)6210 / 2816.81
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.19
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)113 - 1.5" / 38
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m) 8.81 / 2.69
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)52 / 4.83
Grate Area (sq ft / m2) 8.20 / 0.76
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)439 / 40.78
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)439 / 40.78
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume210.05
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation1066
Same as above plus superheater percentage1066
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area6760
Power L12971
Power MT503.84

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