Chesapeake & Ohio K-4
K-4 class no. 2755 in Chief Logan State Park
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerAdvisory Mechanical Committee
Builder
Build date1943–1947
Total produced90
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-8-4
 • UIC1′D2 h2
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.33 in (83.820 cm)
Driver dia.69 in (1.753 m)
Trailing dia.36 in (91.440 cm) (Lead)
43 in (109.220 cm) (Trail)
Tender wheels36 in (91.440 cm)
Minimum curve288 ft (88 m) radius / 20°
Wheelbase93 ft 2 in (28.40 m)
Length105 ft 1+7⁄8 in (32.05 m)
Width10 ft 10 in (3.30 m)
Height15 ft 7+1⁄2 in (4.76 m)
Axle load73,000 lb (37 short tons) to 73,600 lb (36.8 short tons)
Adhesive weight292,000 lb (146 short tons) to 293,100 lb (146.6 short tons)
Loco weight460,000 lb (230 short tons) to 469,680 lb (234.84 short tons)
Tender weight388,030 lb (194.02 short tons) to 394,100 lb (197.1 short tons)
Total weight850,000 lb (420 short tons) to 863,780 lb (431.89 short tons)
Tender type21-RG
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity30 short tons (27 t)
Water cap.21,000 US gal (79,000 L; 17,000 imp gal)
Firebox:​
 • Grate area90 sq ft (8.4 m2)
Boiler:
​
 • ModelFire Tube
 • Diameter98 in (2,489 mm)
 • Tube plates19 ft (6 m)
Boiler pressure245 lbf (1.09 kN)
Feedwater heaterWorthington 5 1/2 SA
10,200 US gallon / hr capacity
Heating surface4,773 sq ft (443.4 m2) ​
 • Tubes and flues4,308 sq ft (400.2 m2)
 • Firebox465 sq ft (43.2 m2)
Superheater:
​
 • TypeType E
 • Heating area1,932 sq ft (179.5 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size26 in × 34 in (660 mm × 864 mm)
Valve gearBaker
Valve typePiston valves
Valve travel8 in (203 mm)
Valve lap1+11⁄16 in (43 mm)
Valve lead3⁄16 in (5 mm)
Train heatingSteam heat
Loco brakePneumatic, Schedule 8-ET
Train brakesPneumatic
Performance figures
Maximum speed70 mph (113 km/h)
Tractive effort69,350 lbf (308.48 kN) (Engine)
14,000 lbf (62.28 kN) (Booster)
83,350 lbf (370.76 kN) (Total)
Factor of adh.4.21-4.23 (Engine)
4.6 (Booster)
Career
OperatorsChesapeake and Ohio Railway
Numbers2700–2789
NicknamesKanawha
Big Mike
Retired1952–1957
PreservedTwelve (Nos. 2700, 2705, 2707, 2716, 2727, 2732, 2736, 2755, 2756, 2760, 2776, 2789) preserved; remainder scrapped
RestoredOngoing with No. 2716
DispositionNo. 2716 undergoing restoration, 11 on display, remainder scrapped
10 preserved built by ALCO and 2 preserved built by Lima

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's K-4 class were a group of ninety 2-8-4 steam locomotives purchased during and shortly after World War II.[1] Unlike many other railroads in the United States, the C&O chose to nickname this class "Kanawha", after the river in West Virginia, rather than "Berkshire", after the region in New England.

Several examples survive today, including at the National Railroad Museum, Science Museum of Virginia, Chief Logan State Park, and B&O Railroad Museum.

Details

During the 1940s, the C&O K-4's were being built to haul heavy freight services and were used mostly for high speed freight and passenger services throughout the north-eastern regions of the United States and part of Ontario, Canada by the Pere Marquette Railway. C&O Class K-4s were one of the few recognizable 2-8-4 (Berkshires) classes in North America along with the Pere Marquette Class N (road numbers 1201-1239), and Nickel Plate Road Class S (road numbers 715-779). Both the PM Class N and NKP Class S were manufactured by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio. NKP 779 was the last standard-gauge Berkshire to be built in the world, and the last steam locomotive built by Lima Locomotive Works. They were successful locomotives and were popular with crews, so popular with them that they referred to the locomotives as "Big Mikes".[2]

The Chesapeake and Ohio Class K-4 Kanawhas aren't the only 2-8-4 Berkshires of their size. Pere Marquette Nos. 1223 and 1225, and Nickel Plate Road Nos. 755, 757, 759, 763, 765, and 779 are other preserved examples of these workhorses.

One Kanawha (No. 2701) was on display in Buffalo, New York after retirement, but was vandalized beyond repair and was eventually scrapped a few months after being on display.[3]

Preserved Locomotives

Twelve Kanawhas have been preserved, with No. 2716 being restored to operation.

See also

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chesapeake and Ohio class K-4.
  1. ↑ Riggan, Phil (May 28, 2014). "C&O Locomotive Restored at Science Museum of Virginia". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Chesapeake & Ohio "2-8-4" Locomotives: Roster, Photos".
  3. ↑ "Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 "Berkshire" Locomotives in the USA".
  4. ↑ "Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-4 "Berkshire" Locomotives in the USA".

Further reading

  • Dixon Jr., Thomas W. (2013). Chesapeake & Ohio K-4 Class 2-8-4 Steam Locomotives (1st ed.). The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society. ISBN 978-0939487592.
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