Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 1517/56 (Locobase 16155)

Data from AB&C 6 -1928 Locomotive Diagrams and Passenger Car Data book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also DeGolyer, Volume 30. pp. 267.Works numbers were 31347-31348 in July 1907; 31461-31462, 31490-31491, 31555, 31563 in August 1907.

Three years after the AB&A bought their first Ten-wheelers from Baldwin (Locobase 8389), they came back for ten more. This decade of locomotives rolled on taller drivers and set the BP higher by 20 psi (1.38 bar). They were later superheated; see Locobase 8389.


Class 1601 (Locobase 12947)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 28, p. 277 and Volume 30, p. 269. Works numbers were 27914-27915, 27935-27936, 28015, 28041 in April 1906; 29080, 29087-29089 in September 1906; 30001, 30017, 30023-30025 in January 1907; 30059 in February; 31568-31569, 31589-31590 in August; 31685-31686, 31797 in September; and 31861 in October.

This set of mixed-traffic Ten-wheelers was the largest single class on the AB&A after they were delivered to the Altanta & Birmingham Construction Company. They were the first with 63" drivers and the first with 21" cylinders.

The AB&A later superheated the class; see Locobase 7858.


Class 40 (Locobase 8389)

Data from AB&C 6 -1928 Locomotive Diagrams and Passenger Car Data book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange and DeGolyer, Volume 26, p. 45.. Information on the railroads from the online Railroad History of Georgia, entries [link] . Works numbers were 23033, 23056-23057 in October 1903; 23695, 23705, 23713 in February 1904; 23862, 23873 in March; and 24052, 24060, 24069-24070, 24121, 24124-24125, 24133 in April; 31312-31313, 31347-31348 in July 1907; 31461-31462, 31490-31491, 31555, 31563 in August 1907.

Baldwin's first set of Ten-wheelers for this alphabet road was supplied in singlets and pairs They were equipped with two 3" arch tubes in the firebox.

In 1905, financial interests organized the AB & A to purchase the Atlanta and Birmingham Railroad and to complete the long-sought direct link between the two cities. Even though it made much use of the failed Macon & Birmingham and did reach Birmingham, Alabama in 1908, the Bee Line was not much more successful. Its direct route actually connected Birmingham with the Atlantic Coast city of Brunswick, Georgia 287 miles away.

Its flimsy finances first forced a transparent reorganization as the Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic RailWAY in 1915, then foreclosure in 1922 and finally a further reorganization as the Atlanta, Birmingham & Coast (AB&C) Railroad. The latter, ABC route was controlled by the Atlantic Coast Line, which absorbed it entirely in 1946.


Class 56 - superheated (Locobase 7608)

Data from AB&C 6 -1928 Locomotive Diagrams and Passenger Car Data book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange.

Sometime after the 56 class came to the AB&C (Locobase 16155), they were superheated in a modest upgrade that also installed piston valves in universal steam chests and two 3"-diameter arch tubes. Some later had their cylinders bored out to 20".


Class W-3 (Locobase 16576)

Data from AB&C 6 -1928 Locomotive Diagrams and Passenger Car Data book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange.

The numbering in the AB&C is very confusing as to actual delivery order as the railroad's later numbering order represents an almost random sequence of earlier numbers. In any case, Baldwin delivered all of these Ten-wheelers (see Locobase 12947).

The railroad superheated them later during which the shops replaced the inside link motion with the linkless Baker-Pilliod. Cylinder volume increased considerably when the shops fitted a design with 2" greater diameter and 2" longer stroke. Tractive effort remained about the same as the saturated-boiler originals.

Engines 101, 103, 106, 108, and 7112-7113 remained on the AB&C roster when that line was absorbed by the Atlantic Coast Line in January 1946. They were scrapped in 1950-1952.


Class W-4 (Locobase 7858)

Data from AB&C 6 -1928 Locomotive Diagrams and Passenger Car Data book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. (Thanks for Chris Hohl for his 1 February 2022 email noting the differences between the two superheater classes; this led Locobase to add a second entry at Locobase 15576.)

The numbering in the AB&C is very confusing as to actual delivery order as the railroad's later numbering order represents an almost random sequence of earlier numbers. In any case, Baldwin delivered all of these Ten-wheelers (see Locobase 12947).

Like the first fourteen of the class superheated by the railroad (Locobase 15576) as W-3s, the shops replaced the inside link motion with the linkless Baker-Pilliod in these W-4s. In all 24, cylinder volume increased considerably when the shops fitted a design with 2" greater diameter and 2" longer stroke. To maintain tractive effort approximately equal to the saturated-class originals while rolling on 4" (102 mm) taller drivers, the cylinder volume increased considerably when the shops fitted a design with 2" greater diameter and 2" longer stroke.

Chris Hohl pointed out that the 121 was fitted with an Elesco feed water heater in April 1926. The railroad removed it in 1939.

The last eight in the class moved on to the Atlantic Coast Line as their 7117-1724 when the ACL absorbed the AB&C in January 1946.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class1517/5616014056 - superheatedW-3
Locobase ID16155 12947 8389 7608 16576
RailroadAtlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic (AB&C)Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic (AB&C)Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic (AB&C)Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic (AB&C)Atlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic (AB&C)
CountryUSAUSAUSAUSAUSA
Whyte4-6-04-6-04-6-04-6-04-6-0
Number in Class1024162614
Road Numbers1517-1526/56-651601-16241501-1516/40-5556-65/60-69101-114
GaugeStdStdStdStdStd
Number Built102416
BuilderBurnham, Williams & CoBurnham, Williams & CoBurnham, Williams & CoAB&AAB&A
Year19071906190419171907
Valve GearStephensonStephensonStephensonBakerBaker
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)13.50 / 4.1114.67 / 4.4713.50 / 4.1113.50 / 4.1114.67 / 4.47
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)24.33 / 7.4225.67 / 7.8224.33 / 7.4222.67 / 6.9125.67 / 7.82
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.55 0.57 0.55 0.60 0.57
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)51.83 / 15.8055.75 / 16.9951.83 / 15.8053.87 / 16.4257.83 / 17.63
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)37,246 / 16,89537,246 / 16,89538,333 / 17,38848,934 / 22,196
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)111,740 / 50,684134,000 / 60,781111,740 / 50,684113,000 / 51,256146,800 / 66,587
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)146,340 / 66,379179,950 / 81,624146,340 / 66,379130,000 / 58,967186,200 / 84,459
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)90,000 / 40,823120,00090,000 / 40,823120,000 / 54,431115,000 / 52,163
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)236,340 / 107,202299,950236,340 / 107,202250,000 / 113,398301,200 / 136,622
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)4500 / 17.055000 / 18.944500 / 17.056000 / 22.736000 / 22.73
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)10 / 910 / 912 / 1111 / 10
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)62 / 3174 / 3762 / 3163 / 31.5082 / 41
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)63 / 160063 / 160063 / 160067 / 170263 / 1600
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)200 / 1380220 / 1520180 / 1240200 / 1380185 / 1380
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)19" x 26" / 483x66021" x 28" / 533x71119" x 26" / 483x66019" x 26" / 483x66023" x 28" / 584x711
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)25,327 / 11488.1536,652 / 16625.0922,795 / 10339.6523,815 / 10802.3236,971 / 16769.78
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.41 3.66 4.90 4.74 3.97
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)289 - 2" / 51360 - 2" / 51289 - 2" / 51158 - 2" / 51202 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)24 - 5.375" / 13728 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)14.42 / 4.4014.42 / 4.4014.42 / 4.4014.42 / 4.4014.50 / 4.42
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)166 / 15.42195 / 18.12166 / 15.43166 / 15.43195 / 18.12
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)28.20 / 2.6231.60 / 2.9428.20 / 2.6228.20 / 2.6231.60 / 2.94
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2333 / 216.742897 / 269.242333 / 216.821786 / 165.992226 / 206.80
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)367 / 34.11429 / 39.86
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2333 / 216.742897 / 269.242333 / 216.822153 / 200.102655 / 246.66
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume273.51258.20273.51209.38165.38
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation56406952507656405846
Same as above plus superheater percentage56406952507665996781
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area33,20042,90029,88038,84441,847
Power L177877972700815,49710,192
Power MT460.91393.48414.80907.04459.19

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
ClassW-4
Locobase ID7858
RailroadAtlanta, Birmingham & Atlantic (AB&C)
CountryUSA
Whyte4-6-0
Number in Class10
Road Numbers115-124
GaugeStd
Number Built
BuilderAB&A
Year1907
Valve GearBaker
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)14.67 / 4.47
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)25.67 / 7.82
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.57
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)57.83 / 17.63
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)48,934 / 22,196
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)146,800 / 66,587
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)186,200 / 84,459
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)115,000 / 52,163
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)301,200 / 136,622
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)6000 / 22.73
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)11 / 10
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)82 / 41
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)67 / 1702
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)200 / 1380
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)23" x 28" / 584x711
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)37,583 / 17047.38
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 3.91
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)202 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)28 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)14.50 / 4.42
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)195 / 18.12
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)31.60 / 2.94
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2226 / 206.88
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)429 / 39.87
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)2655 / 246.75
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume165.38
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation6320
Same as above plus superheater percentage7331
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area45,240
Power L111,718
Power MT527.94

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