C&O T-1 2-10-4

[BigJim]

I was reading the C&OHS magazine from March, 2003 about the T-1 2-10-4. On page 18, it stated under DRIVERS that the journals on the driving axle have been bored 1/8 inch larger on the right than on the left. This was to allow the worn left-hand journals to be rebored and used on the right-hand side.

Can anyone enlighten me on why they would have two different sized journals? The obvious economic slant doesn't make a lot of sense being as you would only be ahead one set of journals. Anyone have any ideas on a mechanical reason?

[pmsteamman]

I am assuming because of the $$$ thing. They would only need to rebore one set instead of two. I may be wrong (I usually am).

[ndbprr]

That would be possible but it seems unlikley because it would reauire that the axle be ground to a larger dimension on the right side than the left which would cause a step. The logic is that the left side and right side would be removed after a degree of wear that could then be removed by boring the journal 1/8" bigger. Any savings by doing this would be more than offset by the double setup required instead of just stacking both the right and left side and boring them as one. Brasses were recycled in many engine shops and remelted to form new ones by die casting them. I would be very surprised if this was true but one never knows do one?

[traingeek087]

post this on trains forum. Did you know that BLI is coming out with one of those with sound in it. (ugly thing if you ask me.)
http://www.broadway-limited.com/

[BigJim]

I would like to thank Mr. Eugene Huddleston for the passing on the following information

I have just recd more info on this from Rod Crawford, retired ME from
ford tractor div. He is one who keeps PM 1225 running. He points to
article on Berks in locos in Profile, mainly by C P Atkins, curator at
the National Ry Museum at York. Rod said he thought savings in money
were considerable. "In the C&O 2-10-4 the r.h. coupled journals and
r.h. main crankpins were 1/8 in greater in dia. than on the l.h.s.,
with the idea that the bearings on the left hand side could be rebored
after wear and reused on the r.h.s., perhaps a counsel of perfection,
especially as the drive was of tandem type and the bearings on the pin
were already of 3 diameters varying by 1/4 in per step. Nevertheless,
the idea was applied to certain other engines, such as the NKP 2-8-4s
and it was embodied in the Lima prototype." -- Gene H