Data from B&LE 1-1944 Locomotive Diagrams supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange.
Firebox heating surface area included 21 sq ft in arch tubes.
Alco produced these locomotives in pairs, the first with slightly more exhaust clearance than the second (3/16" vs 1/8") but less valve lap (7/8" vs 1 1/16"). All four had generous 14" piston valves.
Like the earlier Eight-wheelers, the P1As constituted a very small part of the B & LE's motive power roster. They were medium-sized, medium-powered Pacifics that could easily handle the locals that ran up and down the mainline until the end of steam in 1953.
| Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media | |
|---|---|
| Class | P1A |
| Locobase ID | 9034 |
| Railroad | Bessemer & Lake Erie |
| Country | USA |
| Whyte | 4-6-2 |
| Number in Class | 4 |
| Road Numbers | 901-904 |
| Gauge | Std |
| Number Built | 4 |
| Builder | Alco-Schenectady |
| Year | 1913 |
| Valve Gear | Baker |
| Locomotive Length and Weight | |
| Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) | 12.83 / 3.91 |
| Engine Wheelbase (ft / m) | 33.33 / 10.16 |
| Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase | 0.38 |
| Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m) | 64.87 / 19.77 |
| Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg) | 54,900 / 24,902 |
| Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg) | 145,500 / 65,998 |
| Engine Weight (lbs / kg) | 240,000 / 108,862 |
| Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg) | 148,000 / 67,132 |
| Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg) | 388,000 / 175,994 |
| Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML) | 8500 / 32.20 |
| Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) | 14 / 13 |
| Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m) | 81 / 40.50 |
| Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort | |
| Driver Diameter (in / mm) | 73 / 1854 |
| Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa) | 190 / 1310 |
| High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm) | 24" x 28" / 610x711 |
| Tractive Effort (lbs / kg) | 35,680 / 16184.20 |
| Booster (lbs) | 13,000 |
| Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) | 4.08 |
| Heating Ability | |
| Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm) | 146 - 2.25" / 57 |
| Flues (number - dia) (in / mm) | 26 - 5.5" / 140 |
| Flue/Tube length (ft / m) | 21 / 6.40 |
| Firebox Area (sq ft / m2) | 203 / 18.87 |
| Grate Area (sq ft / m2) | 49.10 / 4.56 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 2784 / 258.74 |
| Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 641 / 59.57 |
| Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 3425 / 318.31 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume | 189.90 |
| Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information) | |
| Robert LeMassena's Power Computation | 9329 |
| Same as above plus superheater percentage | 11,102 |
| Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area | 45,898 |
| Power L1 | 15,087 |
| Power MT | 685.80 |