4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" Steam Locomotives in the USA

Class 250 (Locobase 12499)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 23, p 300. Works numbers were 19088-19091, 19105-19110 in June 1901.

Bought at the height of the Vauclain compound popularity, this decade of Ten-wheelers used two relatively large 13" (330 mm) piston valves, each of which supplied steam to both the HP and LP cylinder in a single casting. A note in the specs notes that the last six engines had enough lateral play in the drivers to reduce the rigid wheelbase to 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m). Locobase is not certain if the 19.5 sq ft (1.81 sq m) of arch tubes is included in the firebox heating surface figure, but believes it was.

These engines were not part of the Harriman Common Standard program that ordered hundreds of locomotives to set designs, none of which used compounding.

Like most North American railroads, the Alton soon abandoned compounding and converted the class to simple-expansion engines in 1904-1908; see Locobase 9038

Class G1 (Locobase 9043)

Data from C&A 1- 1930 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange.Works numbers were 3801-3803 in July 1892.

Locobase 8240 describes an 1887 Ten-wheeler quintet delivered by the Albany builder to the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe that raised the firebox and thus expanded possibilities in 4-6-0s.

Five years later, the C&A procured seventeen Ten-wheelers that manifested a similar set of ratios, except for the relatively small firebox heating surface area that included the enlarged grate and 5 1/2" (140 mm) longer tubes.

Later accounting assigned just the 232 to the original class.

G1s subdivided into several variants: see 2 G1B (Locobase 9036), 3 G1C (Locobase 9039), and twelve G1D/G1E (Locobase 9035).

Class G1B (Locobase 9036)

Data from C&A 1- 1930 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. Works numbers were 3802-3803 in July 1892.

This pair seem to have been identical to the G1D shown in Locobase 9035, which also came from Schenectady in 1892. But the present class had more than 6 short tons greater adhesion weight. A 2" (50.8 mm) longer stroke and 6" (152 mm) smaller drivers addressed a retirement for more tractive power.

The ferro-knacker claimed the 233 in October 1923, but 198 (ex-234) remained on the books until scrapped just about ten years later in September 1933.

Class G1C (Locobase 9039)

Data from C&A 1- 1930 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. Works numbers were 3798-3800 in June 1892

One of the variations among the Ten-wheelers produced in 1892 by Schenectady for the Alton was driver diameter. This trio had the same boiler as the other G1 engines (see Locobase 9043), but less cylinder volume. Taller drivers suited them for passenger work.

The Alton sold all three for scrap in February 1929.

Class G1D, G1E (Locobase 9035)

Data from C&A 6- 1918 Locomotive Diagrams and Kansas City Southern 1908-1909 Locomotive supplied in May 2005 and July 2025, respectively by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange collection.. Works numbers were 3992-3993 in January 1893, 4031-4034 in March, 4035-4040 in March-April 1893.

Of the several varieties of Schenectady 4-6-0s delivered to the C&A in 192-1893, most fell into classes G1D/G1E.

Eleven years after their service entry, the C&A sold 237-238 and 244-245 to the Kansas City Southern. See Locobase 6839 for the KCS D-4s, which show quite a bit more firebox heating surface area and a few more boiler tubes.

The Alton later changed the balance in tender capacities to more water (4,500 US gallons/17,033 litres) and less coal (7 tons/7.7 tons).

Class G2 (Locobase 9044)

Data from C&A 1- 1930 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange.

The Alton occasionally built a locomotive in its own shops and this was the only Ten-wheeler that came on the road from that source. Compared to the later engines, this was a bit smaller in most respects.

88 received number 220 (which matched her tube count) in 1899. She carried on for another 25 years before meeting the scrapper in 1925.

Class G3A - simpled (Locobase 9038)

Data from C&A 1- 1930 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange.

Big Ten-wheelers that were originally delivered in 1901 as the Vauclain compounds shown in Locobase 12499. The class converted to the simple-expansion arrangement in 1904-1908. In the process, they received the taller drivers more suitable for pure passenger work. Also, they saw a reduction in boiler capacity by the deletion of 53 tubes, which reduced the EHS/grate area ratio

Although big engines with passenger-train-sized drivers, they were soon outstripped by the heavier trains. Never superheated, the class was scrapped in September 1933, two years after the Alton joined the Baltimore & Ohio