In 1930, six more Class L-1s came from Baldwin and were assigned road numbers 416 through 421. These locomotives were similar to the ones delivered in 1922 except they weighed 3,490 lbs more. The "Mountains" were later transferred to freight service and later their boiler pressure was raised to 210 psi to increase tractive effort to 55,800 pounds.
To open up a block of numbers for newly arriving GP7s in the early 1950s, the 14 remaining L-1 "Mountains" were renumbered in 1953 and they then carried road numbers 470 through 483.
There are no surviving L&N "Mountains".
| Class | Qty. | Road Numbers | Year Built | Builder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L-1 | 16 | 400-415 | 1926 | Baldwin |
| L-1 | 6 | 416-421 | 1930 | Baldwin |
Data from L & N 8-1927 locomotive diagram book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange, supplemented by DeGolyer, Vol 76, pp. 63+. Works numbers were 58877-58878 in December 1925, 58910-58915 in January, 59523-59527 in September, 59550-59552 in October.
Firebox had combustion chamber surface area amounting to 104 sq ft (9.67 sqm) and 28 sq ft (2.6 sq m) of arch tubes contributed to firebox heating surface area. Based on the USRA light Mountain design (Locobase 231) that saw service throughout the L&N system except for the Gulf Coast west of Mobile. The last five of the class were delivered with significant modifications to the fireboxes; see Locobase 14353.
Charles B Castner in Drury (1993) tells us that the Mountains stepped right into heavy mainline passenger service between Cincinnati and Atlanta with some trains continuing on to Birmingham. Barred by bridge loading limits from operating further south, the 4-8-2s later added Louisville-East St Louis trains and even freights. They saw out steam on the L & N, retiring in the mid-1950s.
Data from DeGolyer, Volume 82, pp. 147+ and L&N 8-1927 locomotive diagram book supplied in May 2005 by Allen Stanley from his extensive Rail Data Exchange. See also Richard E Prince, Louisville & Nashville Steam Locomotives (1968, reprinted by Indiana University Press in 2000), p. 126. Works numbers were 61541-61542, 61549-61552 in October 1930
Locobase 209 describes the first sixteen L-1s from 1926, which were based on the USRA's Light Mountain (Locobase 231) design. In this later sextet, the L&N devoted even more space to direct heating surface area. The combustion chamber now added 113 sq ft (10.5 sq m) and thermic syphons contributed 72 sq ft (6.7 sq m); arch tube area was cut in hafl to 14 sq ft (1.3 sq m).
Prince says this group hauled Cincinnati to Atlanta expresses and the Southland and Flamingo expresses to Florida. Over the road times on the 489 miles (787 km) between the two major cities was as low as 11 hours and 20 minutes, averaging 43.3 mph; 70 km/h). The trains stopped for coal and water six times and the run included one change of engines at Corbin. According to Prince: "This performance would seem quite remarkable considering the mountainous terrain encountered on this route."
| Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Middle Run Media | ||
|---|---|---|
| Class | L-1 | L-1 - 1930 |
| Locobase ID | 209 | 14353 |
| Railroad | Louisville & Nashville (L&N) | Louisville & Nashville (L&N) |
| Country | USA | USA |
| Whyte | 4-8-2 | 4-8-2 |
| Number in Class | 16 | 5 |
| Road Numbers | 400-415 | 416-421 |
| Gauge | Std | Std |
| Number Built | 16 | 6 |
| Builder | Baldwin | Baldwin |
| Year | 1926 | 1930 |
| Valve Gear | Walschaert | Walschaert |
| Locomotive Length and Weight | ||
| Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) | 18.25 / 5.56 | 18.25 / 5.56 |
| Engine Wheelbase (ft / m) | 40 / 12.19 | 40 / 12.19 |
| Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase | 0.46 | 0.46 |
| Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m) | 75.70 / 23.07 | 75.70 / 23.07 |
| Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg) | 57,400 / 26,036 | 57,100 |
| Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg) | 223,950 / 101,582 | 226,910 / 102,693 |
| Engine Weight (lbs / kg) | 333,100 / 151,092 | 337,730 / 151,609 |
| Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg) | 194,000 / 87,997 | 196,000 / 88,904 |
| Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg) | 527,100 / 239,089 | 533,730 / 240,513 |
| Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML) | 10,000 / 37.88 | 10,000 / 37.88 |
| Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT) | 16 / 15 | 19 / 17 |
| Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m) | 93 / 46.50 | 95 / 47.50 |
| Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort | ||
| Driver Diameter (in / mm) | 69 / 1753 | 69 / 1753 |
| Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa) | 200 / 1380 | 200 / 1380 |
| High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm) | 27" x 30" / 686x762 | 27" x 30" / 686x762 |
| Tractive Effort (lbs / kg) | 53,883 / 24440.95 | 53,883 / 24440.95 |
| Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) | 4.16 | 4.21 |
| Heating Ability | ||
| Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm) | 190 - 2.25" / 57 | 190 - 2.25" / 57 |
| Flues (number - dia) (in / mm) | 45 - 5.5" / 140 | 45 - 5.5" / 140 |
| Flue/Tube length (ft / m) | 20.50 / 6.25 | 20.50 / 6.25 |
| Firebox Area (sq ft / m2) | 351 / 32.61 | 415 / 38.55 |
| Grate Area (sq ft / m2) | 70.30 / 6.53 | 70.80 / 6.58 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 3959 / 367.80 | 4023 / 373.75 |
| Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 1078 / 100.15 | 1087 / 100.98 |
| Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2) | 5037 / 467.95 | 5110 / 474.73 |
| Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume | 199.14 | 202.36 |
| Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information) | ||
| Robert LeMassena's Power Computation | 14,060 | 14,160 |
| Same as above plus superheater percentage | 17,013 | 17,134 |
| Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area | 84,942 | 100,430 |
| Power L1 | 17,835 | 18,373 |
| Power MT | 702.29 | 714.04 |
