South Pacific Coast 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" Locomotives in the USA

Class 18 (Locobase 11847)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Vol 13, p. 35. Works numbers were 7939 and 7941 in May 1886 and 8486-8487 in April 1887.

It's not clear if these Ten-wheelers stayed on the same metals during their long careers, but they were narrow-gaugers in the Sierras to the end. They were designed to meet 2 1/2% grades (126-ft rise to the mile) and 16-deg curves.

After the SPC was redubbed the SPC (North Shore), three of the engines remained under that herald until sold in April 1906 to the Nevada & California (see Locobase 8700). The 16 (ex-19) was rebuilt in 1921 and operated until 1935. 14 (ex-18) was converted to a stationary boiler in Colfax, Calif in 1945 and lasted until it was scrapped in October 1951. 17 (ex-21) was similarly treated and scrapped in April 1952.

20 was sold in January 1908 to the Northwestern Pacific as their 144. Apparently rebuilt with a new boiler, it is described separately in Locobase 8170.

Class 22 (Locobase 11606)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 15, p. 54. Works number was 9929 in April 1889.

NB: Locobase estimates the firebox heating surface area based on a similar firebox in the Internacional Mexicano 4-6-0 described in Locobase 11632.

Narrow-gauge SPC paid $7,460 for this little Ten-wheeler in 1889 and operated it until July 1906, when they sold it to the Nevada & California. It served the N&C as #15 for six years before the SP took it back in 1912.

Once back on SP rails, the engine ran until it was retired in January 1934. SP's Sacramento shops scrapped it in December 1935.