Draft:Norfolk and Western 1240

Norfolk and Western 1240
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderN&W's Roanoke Shops (East End Shops)
Serial number385
Build dateMay 1950
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-6-6-4
Driver70 in (1,778 mm)
Gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Leading dia.33 in (838 mm)
Driver dia.70 in (1.778 m)
Trailing dia.42 in (1.067 m)
Axle load72,000 lbs (32.7 tonnes)
Loco weight573,000 lb (259.9 tonnes)
Tender weight378,600 lb (171.7 tonnes)
Total weight951,600 lb (431.6 tonnes)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity30 short tons (60,000 lb)
Water cap.22,000 US gallons (83,000 L)
Fuel consumption7 t (6.9 long tons; 7.7 short tons) of coal per hour 13,906 US gal (52,640 L; 11,579 imp gal) of water per hour
Firebox:
 • Grate area122 sq ft (11.3 m2)
Boiler106 in (2,692 mm)
Boiler pressure300 lbf/in2 (2.07 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Firebox587 sq ft (54.5 m2)
 • Tubes and flues6,052 sq ft (562.2 m2)
Superheater:
 • TypeType E
 • Heating area2,703 sq ft (251.1 m2)
CylindersFour, simple articulated
Cylinder size24 in × 30 in (610 mm × 760 mm)
Valve gearBaker
Valve typePiston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort114,000 lbf (507.10 kN)
Factor of adh.3.8
Career
OperatorsNorfolk and Western Railway
Retired1959
Scrapped1959
DispositionScrapped
References:[1]

Norfolk and Western 1240 was a four-cylinder simple articulated 2-6-6-4 steam locomotive, built in June 1950 by the Norfolk and Western's (N&W) East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia as part of the N&W's class "A" fleet of fast freight locomotives.

History edit

Norfolk and Western 1240 was manufactured in May 1950 by the Norfolk and Western Railway at their own Roanoke Shops. 1240 was the third member of the final batch of five class A 2-6-6-4 locomotives built with roller bearing side rods.[2]

No. 1240 was retired from active service on the Norfolk and Western Railway when they began replacing steam locomotives with diesel locomotives but would surprisingly be fired up again in 1959 and used on the N&W's "Farewell to Steam" excursion train along with class Y6b No. 2174,[3] when the "Farewell to Steam" excursion had ended that same year in 1959, No. 1240 was sold for scrap.

References edit

  1. ^ Jeffries (1980), p. 324.
  2. ^ Le Massena, Robert A. (November 1991). N&W's Secret Weapons. Trains Magazine. pp. 64–69.
  3. ^ Sears, Robert (July 12, 1959). "Smoke-Blackened Rail Buffs End 'Safari in Steam'". The Roanoke Times. Vol. 146, no. 12. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.

Further reading edit

  • Carleton, Paul (1994). Memories of Norfolk and Western Power (1st ed.). D. Carleton Railbooks.
  • Jeffries, Lewis (1980). N&W: Giant of Steam (1st ed.). Pruett Publishing. ISBN 0-87108-547-X.