Kishacoquillas Valley 4-4-0 "American" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 3 (Locobase 12447)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 23, p.136. See also J Britton, "Kishacoquillas Valley Railroad", archived at [link] . Works number was 18256 in September 1900.

The KVRR served a nine-mile (14.5 km) swath of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania between Reedsville and Belleville, northwest of Harrisburg. A website devoted to this little line ([link]) notes that local residents nicknamed it the Ol' Hook & Eye, the Lofty Vanderbilt, or the Hair Line. Again according to the website, "Much of the railroad's enchantment comes from the fact that it was financed through local stock subscriptions only, and was controlled its entire life by a Belleville physician, Dr. John P. Getter."

He also observes: "The KV was very accommodating and one could thumb a ride on the train anywhere along its route. A common saying was that the KV train stopped once at every single house and twice at every double house."

The KVRR's first bought-new engine was this little Eight-wheeler, for which the Ol' Hook & Eye paid $8,750. Its relatively high boiler pressure and low drivers suited it to the mixed-traffic demands of this mostly agricultural line.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class3
Locobase ID12447
RailroadKishacoquillas Valley
CountryUSA
Whyte4-4-0
Number in Class1
Road Numbers3
GaugeStd
Number Built1
BuilderBurnham, Williams & Co
Year1900
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 8.50 / 2.59
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)22.67 / 6.91
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.37
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)50,000 / 22,680
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)78,000 / 35,380
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)55,000 / 24,948
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)133,000 / 60,328
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)2500 / 9.47
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)42 / 21
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)56 / 1422
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)200 / 1380
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)15" x 24" / 381x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)16,393 / 7435.75
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.05
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)174 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11.50 / 3.51
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)115.50 / 10.73
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)16.50 / 1.53
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1156 / 107.43
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1156 / 107.43
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume235.44
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation3300
Same as above plus superheater percentage3300
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area23,100
Power L16590
Power MT581.14

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