Atlantic Coast Line class P-5-A
Atlantic Coast Line No. 1504 on static display in April 2018
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder American Locomotive Company's (ALCO) Richmond and Brooks Works Serial number 59310-59319, 61063-61069, 61248-61275, 62069-62093 Build date 1919-1920 Total produced 70
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2  • UIC 2′C2′ h1 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 73 in (1,854 mm) Wheelbase Loco & tender: 70.79 ft (21.58 m) Length 80 ft 9.5 in (24.63 m) Axle load 59,333 lb (26,913 kilograms; 26.913 metric tons) Adhesive weight 178,000 lb (81,000 kilograms; 81 metric tons) Loco weight 278,000 lb (126,000 kilograms; 126 metric tons) Tender weight 193,000 lb (88,000 kilograms; 88 metric tons) Total weight 471,000 lb (214,000 kilograms; 214 metric tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 16 t (16 long tons; 18 short tons) Water cap. 10,000 US gal (38,000 L; 8,300 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 66.70 sq ft (6.197 m2) Boiler pressure 200 psi (1.38 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 242 sq ft (22.5 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 794 sq ft (73.8 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 25 in × 28 in (635 mm × 711 mm) Valve gear Baker
Performance figures Maximum speed 80 mph (130 km/h) Tractive effort 40,750 lbf (181.27 kN) Factor of adh. 4.12
Career Operators Atlantic Coast Line Class P-5-A Numbers 1500-1569 Retired 1949-1952 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The Atlantic Coast Line P-5-A was a class of 70 4-6-2 USRA Light Pacific steam locomotives built by the American Locomotive Company's Richmond and Brooks Works between 1919 and 1920 for the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) to haul their premier main line passenger trains. By the early 1950s, all of the P-5-As were retired and scrapped with exception of No. 1504, who survived into preservation and is currently undergoing restoration to operating condition.

Service history

The locomotives pulled passenger trains 10 to 12 cars long, including the Miamian, the Florida Special, Palmetto Limited, the Southland, the South Wind and the Dixie Flyer. By the late 1940s, the railroad had dieselised its passenger trains and they were assigned to fast freight service, of which they were successful in doing so.^[1][2][3] However, they could not pull passenger trains exceeding 14 cars without double-heading, as such, they were replaced in heavier passenger service by the R-1 class of Northerns.^[4]

Preservation

Only one P-5-A has been preserved, No. 1504. It was chosen for preservation by ACL president Champion Davis and the Head of ACL's Mechanical Department, John W. Hawthornethe. In 1960, after some years in storage, the locomotive was given a thorough mechanical overhaul and then placed on display in front of the then new ACL General Office Building in Jacksonville.^[2] It was cosmetically restored and put on display at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, where it resided until 2021.^[1] It is the only surviving original USRA Light Pacific steam locomotive and is in almost original condition.

The locomotive was designated as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1990.^[5] It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2021, No. 1504 was purchased by the U.S. Sugar Corporation and moved to the FMW Solutions' Southeastern Office and Fabrication Shop in Chattanooga, Tennessee,^[6] where it is currently being restored to operating condition for the South Central Florida Express, Inc. in Clewiston, Florida.^[7][8]

References

Further reading

• Griffin Jr., William E. (2001). Atlantic Coast Line: The Standard Railroad of the South (1st ed.). TLC Publishing. ISBN 978-1-883089-62-7.
• Prince, Richard E. (2000). Atlantic Coast Line Railroad: Steam Locomotives, Ships, and History (2nd ed.). Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-33694-1.