Talk:2-6-6-6

Latest comment: 2 years ago by Redrose64 in topic 2-6-6-6 Alleghenies

Heaviest Locomotive?

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I know I'm stepping onto difficult and dangerous turf here, but here are two contrary references. Bruce is certainly an authority and the Locomotive Cyclopedia is the standard reference...

Locomotive Weight of Locomotive, pounds Weight of Tender Total Weight Note Reference
Big Boy 762,000 342,200 1,104,200 Tender 2/3 capacity Locomotive Cyclopedia 1950-52, Simmons Boardman, page 501
C&O H-8 724,500 341,600 1,066,100 Tender 2/3 capacity Locomotive Cyclopedia 1950-52, Simmons Boardman, page 501
Big Boy 772,000 435,000 1,207,000 Alfred Bruce, The Steam Locomotive in America: Its Development in the Twentieth Century, W.W. Norton, 1952, photo section
C&O H-8 751,800 427,000 1,178,800 Alfred Bruce, The Steam Locomotive in America: Its Development in the Twentieth Century, W.W. Norton, 1952, photo section

Bruce was, at the time of the building of both, Director of Steam Locomotive Engineering at Alco and, therefore, an authoritative source, although possibly with a bias toward Big Boy (the H-8 was built by Lima). He also says, "[Big Boys] are still the heaviest steam locomotives in the world today [1952] with reciprocating pistons and direct-rod drive." (page 329)

As these figures illustrate, it's important to have comparable numbers, preferably from the same source. Both of these beasts carried around 250,000 pounds of coal and water in their tenders and around 75,000 pounds of water in their boilers, so there's a 325,000 pound difference between their weights, dry and empty on the scales at the factory, and fully loaded for a run. . . . . Jim . . . . Jameslwoodward (talkcontribs) 22:41, 22 January 2010 (UTC)Reply

I'll have to go looking for the source, there is reason to believe the "official" weight of the C&O monsters was deliberately understated at the time by playing fast and loose with the weighing conditions. My understanding after reading all the arguments was that it is unclear which was heaver. Ferritecore (talk) 03:00, 23 January 2011 (UTC)Reply

Also see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_Big_Boy#DesignThere is some speculation that the first series of C&O H8 2-6-6-6 engines may have weighed as much as 778,200 lbs, but during subsequent re-weighs of early production H8's under close scrutiny by the builder and the railroad owner, all engines were found to be less than 772,250 lbs.″ There is a source (Trains Magazine) cited. 76.90.104.68 (talk) 20:06, 13 October 2018 (UTC)Reply

2-6-6-6 Alleghenies

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Bring back the rest of the 2-6-6-6 Alleghenies 2A02:A03F:86E2:BC00:E124:9C46:4D8:3896 (talk) 18:22, 19 March 2022 (UTC)Reply

I suspect, based on your question, that you found one of our over 6.4 million articles and thought we were affiliated in some way with that subject. Please note that you are at Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, and this page is for discussion on how to improve the 2-6-6-6 article. --Redrose64 🌹 (talk) 23:07, 19 March 2022 (UTC)Reply