Norfolk & Southern / Norfolk Southern 4-4-0 "American" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 38 (Locobase 4945)

Data taken from [] and the Norfolk & Southern Steam Locomotive Diagrams book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange.

This is a slightly bigger design than the 1882 Rogers engine. In the diagram, the grate area is supposedly doubled to 36 sq ft. That seems unlikely, but there is no other information to go on. On the other hand, the diagram shows that the firebox is mounted above the driving axles and thus is wider.

Locobase can't match these to any entry on JF Webber's list of Dickson locomotives (conveyed to Locobase by Allen Stanley in March 2004).


Class B-5 (Locobase 11431)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University, Volume 30, p.211 and from "Locomotive Building," The Railroad Gazette, Vol XLI, No 5 (3 August 1906), p. 31. Works numbers were 30491, 30508, 30521-30522, 30532 in March 1907; 30570-30571 in April 1907.

This class served the N & S (later the NS) for 25-30 years each. Four were sold to N Block, a scrap dealer. 48 and 51 were scrapped in July 1932. 52 went 5 years later in December 1937.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class38B-5
Locobase ID4945 11431
RailroadNorfolk Southern (NS)Norfolk & Southern (NS)
CountryUSAUSA
Whyte4-4-04-4-0
Number in Class27
Road Numbers38-3948-54 / 55-57, 51-54
GaugeStdStd
Number Built27
BuilderDicksonBurnham, Williams & Co
Year18841907
Valve GearStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 8.59 / 2.62 9.08 / 2.77
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)22.92 / 6.9924.29 / 7.40
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.37 0.37
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)46.50 / 14.17
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)68,100 / 30,89072,000 / 32,659
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)92,400 / 41,912116,000 / 52,617
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)80,000 / 36,287
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)196,000 / 88,904
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3800 / 14.394000 / 15.15
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)57 / 28.5060 / 30
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)68 / 172766 / 1549
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)140 / 9.70180 / 12.40
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)19" x 24" / 483x61018" x 24" / 457x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)15,162 / 6877.3818,026 / 8176.47
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.49 3.99
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)185 - 2" / 51246 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)14 / 4.2712.02 / 3.66
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)149.60 / 13.90
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)36 / 3.3518.70 / 1.74
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1234 / 114.681686 / 156.69
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1234 / 114.681686 / 156.69
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume156.60238.47
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation50403366
Same as above plus superheater percentage50403366
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area26,928
Power L16817
Power MT417.47

All material Copyright © SteamLocomotive.com
Wes Barris