Virginia & Truckee 4-6-0 "Ten-Wheeler" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 25 (Locobase 12751)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 27, p. 184. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 18 July 2016 email outlining the various tender fuel capacities and to Wendell Huffman, Curator of History at the Nevada State Railroad Commission for providing Chris with that information.) Works number was 25016 in January 1905.

Wendell Huffman noted that the 37 switched from coal-burning to oil burning and trailed a tender carrying 2,525 US gallons (9,557 litres) of oil. The ICC report on this railroad reported in 1917 the 37's tender's capacity as 2,360 gallons (8,933 litres).

Like many other engines on this iconic Nevada railroad, the 25 later went into pictures. After over 4 decades on the V & T, the locomotive went to RKO Pictures in April 1947. Desilu (Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball's TV empire) bought RKO in January 1958, but didn't sell the engine until January 1964. Hurlbut Amusements owned the 25 until 1971, when the company sold it to the State of Nevada.


Class 26 (Locobase 12752)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 31, p. 9; and Volume 43, p. 146. See also the "V&T Locomotive #26", Nevada State Railroad Museum, last accessed 6 August 2015 at [link] . (Many thanks to Chris Hohl for his 18 June 2015 email noting the oil bunker's capacity and for uncovering the NRSM's writeup of their #26.) Works numbers were 31341 in July 1907 and 39453 in March 1913.

When the V & T returned to Baldwin 2 years after they'd purchased the 25 (Locobase 12751), they went for more power in every way. The cylinders, boiler, grate were all bigger, the engine weighed more and trailed a bigger tender. They even specified smaller drivers for still more tractive effort. The 26 was delivered as a coal burner and converted to oil-burning in 1910. The 27 was delivered as an oil-burner.

After 43 years in service, the 26 was destroyed by fire in May 1950, the same month in which the railroad itself was abandoned. Two years before, the 27 had been put on display at Carson City. In succession the locomotive would be owned by the Purdy Company, the Carson City Chamber of Commerce, the State of Nevada, and the Nevada State Heritage Association.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media
Class2526
Locobase ID12751 12752
RailroadVirginia & TruckeeVirginia & Truckee
CountryUSAUSA
Whyte4-6-04-6-0
Number in Class12
Road Numbers2526-27
GaugeStdStd
Number Built12
BuilderBurnham, Williams & CoBurnham, Williams & Co
Year19051907
Valve GearStephensonStephenson
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m)11 / 3.3511.33 / 3.45
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)21.25 / 6.4821.58 / 6.58
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.52 0.53
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)70,000 / 31,75296,000 / 43,545
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)90,000 / 40,823121,000 / 54,885
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)60,000 / 27,21680,000 / 36,287
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)150,000 / 68,039201,000 / 91,172
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3000 / 11.364000 / 15.15
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) 6.50 / 62300 / 8706
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)39 / 19.5053 / 26.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)60 / 152456 / 1422
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)160 / 1100190 / 1310
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)17" x 24" / 432x61018" x 24" / 457x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)15,722 / 7131.3922,425 / 10171.82
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.45 4.28
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)142 - 2" / 51228 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)13.25 / 4.0412.50 / 3.81
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)89.90 / 8.35146 / 13.56
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)18.20 / 1.6922.40 / 2.08
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1069 / 99.311628 / 151.30
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1069 / 99.311628 / 151.30
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume169.41230.27
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation29124256
Same as above plus superheater percentage29124256
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area14,38427,740
Power L138505914
Power MT363.76407.44

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