Does anyone have some good references to the Erie Railroad's "Matt Shea" (sp?). I think that was the name of the 'triplex', a 2-8-8-8-0, methinks. Was only one built? How long did it last? Where was it used?, etc.. Thanks.
Bill -- wdh@mcn.net
Bill;
Here's an interesting link w/ some photos: http://www.italiansinamerica.com/Erie.htm
And another with some more photos and info: http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/triplex/triplex.htm
Hope these will get you started.
The Matt Shay was the first of Erie's three 2-8-8-8-2 triplexes. The Virginian also had one, a 2-8-8-8-4 of slightly different design. Both versions suffered from poor boiler design. The N&W Y-3 had a bigger firebox and used all of its exhaust to generate airflow in the boiler tubes.
The Erie versions went from the erection floor to out of service in a matter of months, and to scrap not much later. OTOH, the Virginian sent their monstrosity back to Baldwin, where it was dissected and rebuilt as a 2-8-8-0 and a 2-8-2. Both locomotives lasted until the end of steam.
Chuck
The VGN Triplexes were unqualified failures based on just about everything I've read about them. The Erie Triplexes (the first one was named "Matt H. Shay") did a little bit better as pushers but both had too much machinery, not enough boiler. Both designs came out of the drag freight era, and the Erie Triplexes died with the advent of Super Power and faster freight service.
Re: your www.italiansinamerica.com link, I wasn't aware that Bladwin Locomotive Works built engines in Lima, Ohio, in the steam era! B-L-H, later, yar! Anyhoo, I am not, and never was, a Baldwin fan. They were too closely associtate with the "Red Team" (PRR), while I was on the "Green Team" (NYC) and an Alco lover.
Thanks for the fotos.
Hays
Stauffer's book ERIE POWER. Also check old Trains and Railroad Magazine issues. Worked the grade Susquehanna, PA to Gulf Summit, NY and maybe over the hill to Deposit, NY and back. Too big for the Erie shop, so was deadheaded to Sayre, PA on the LV for heavy work.
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I guess I have two questions.
The first is that the Triplexes may have been ahead of their time, or at least ahead of the Superpower concept of really high output boilers. Couldn't this concept have worked for its intended purpose (you always needed helpers on major inclines) with more modern boilers?
Another problem with the Triplex was that half the high pressure exhaust steam got sent to the cylinders under the tender and hence exhausted out the back without contributing to boiler draft, hence the problem keeping up steam in those things. One answer, I suppose, would have been some type of Geisel, Kly-Chap, Porta, or whatever high efficiency draft ejector, but those things came on the scene years after the Triplex experiments. The other answer would have been to send all of the exhaust steam to the blast pipe under the stack where it belongs.
On the line of thought, what was the story on things like Garratts, where they had cylinders way far away from the boiler at each end -- were there any problems piping steam such long distances? I have seen pictures of Garratts, and it isn't even clear to me where they hide the supply and exhaust steam popes.
If GM "killed the electric car", what am I doing standing next to an EV-1, a half a block from the WSOR tracks?
BNSFwatcher I wasn't aware that Bladwin Locomotive Works built engines in Lima, Ohio, in the steam era! B-L-H, later, yar!
I wasn't aware that Bladwin Locomotive Works built engines in Lima, Ohio, in the steam era! B-L-H, later, yar!
Baldwin Locomotive Works DID NOT build locomotives in Lima,OH. Lima Locomotive Works was the builder located in Lima, OH, The writer of the that web page blew it!
Here's a link to a summary history of steam locomotive builders:
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/builders/
Mike
In the diesel era Baldwin merged with two companies, Lima and Hamilton and thus Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton locomotives were built in Lima. Many reffered to the locomotives as "B-L-H" while many called them just "Baldwins". But no, no Baldwin steam was erected at Lima.
henry6 In the diesel era Baldwin merged with two companies, Lima and Hamilton and thus Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton locomotives were built in Lima. Many reffered to the locomotives as "B-L-H" while many called them just "Baldwins". But no, no Baldwin steam was erected at Lima.
In 1947, the Lima Locomotive Works purchased the General Machinery Corp. of Hamilton, Ohio, who was a diesel engine builder. The successor firm was known as Lima-Hamilton Corp. Steam and diesel locomotive production continued at the Lima plant until 1951. Baldwin and Lima-Hamilton merged in 1950. The Lima-Hamilton line of diesel locomotives continued in production at Lima until 1951. No Baldwin design locomotives were built at Lima.
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