4-4-0 "American" Steam Locomotives in the USA

Mobile & Ohio


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 77 (Locobase 16686)

Data from Birmingham & North Western Locomotive Diagrams supplied in 2025 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. Works number was 5510 in February 1881.

This small Eight-wheeled American-type locomotive was a one-off for the M&O, joining a handful of older Philadelphia-built 4-4-0s. Regardless of its unicorn quality, which included a relatively tiny grate,, the 77 remained on the M&O roster for decades. In 1885, the M&O converted from its original five-foot gauge to standard gauge.

25 years later, successor Gulf, Mobile & Ohio sold the 77 (possibly renumbered 72) to short-line Birmingham & North Western as their #10.. Running over 48 1/2 miles, all in Tennessee, the line linked Jackson to Dyersburg.

The 10 disappeared from the roster by 1927, when the Gulf, Mobile & Northern absorbed the B&NW .

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class77
Locobase ID16686
RailroadMobile & Ohio
CountryUSA
Whyte4-4-0
Number in Class1
Road Numbers77/72
Gauge5'
Number Built
BuilderBaldwin
Year1881
Valve GearStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 8.54 / 2.60
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)22.54 / 6.87
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.38
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)48.79 / 14.87
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)54,000 / 24,494
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)86,000 / 39,009
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)75,000 / 34,019
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)161,000 / 73,028
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3000 / 11.36
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)10 / 9.10
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)45 / 22.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)56 / 1422
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)140 / 950
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 24" / 432x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)14,739 / 6685.51
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.66
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)182 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)13 / 3.96
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)107.80 / 10.01
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)11.10 / 1.03
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1348 / 125.23
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1348 / 125.23
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume213.63
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation1554
Same as above plus superheater percentage1554
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area15,092
Power L13908
Power MT319.10

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