Noteable Steamers

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Old Timer

Murphy Siding - the four-wheel trailer was necessary to carry the weight of the larger firebox. C&O and NKP fans will tell you that the AMC Berkshires were better, but they're prejudiced. There were two sizes of the AMC Berks - the C&O was larger (one inch larger cylinders, etc.) and the NKP was smaller.

But neither was as pretty as the L&N Berk, which was a match for the smaller AMC.

Old Timer

I see the reason for the 4 wheel trailer. Wondering why you would need a 4 wheel leading truck?

[Anonymous]

Murphy Siding - the four-wheel trailer was necessary to carry the weight of the larger firebox. C&O and NKP fans will tell you that the AMC Berkshires were better, but they're prejudiced. There were two sizes of the AMC Berks - the C&O was larger (one inch larger cylinders, etc.) and the NKP was smaller.

But neither was as pretty as the L&N Berk, which was a match for the smaller AMC.

Old Timer

[Murphy Siding]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bobwilcox

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

bobwilcox: Thanks. I read the article on the link. It's not really clear why the AMC designed Berkshire was better than the Lima or Alco Berkshires. Perhaps just a better engineered design? The article talks about the jump from 2-8-2 wheel layout to 2-8-4 as providing more carrying capacity for a bigger firebox. What would be the advantage of the 4 wheel leading trucks on some later designs?

A bigger firebox. The larger the grate area the more fuel you can burn at one time, the more heat and the more steam. The grate area on a USRA 2-8-2 was 70.8 sq ft., a B&A 2-8-4 100 sq ft and a UP Big Boy 150.3 sq ft.

Are you saying the AMC designed Berkshires were better because of bigger fireboxes? Or that reason for a 4 wheel leading truck was for a bigger firebox?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I recommend Kalmbach's "Guide to the North American Steam Locomotive" by George Drury.

Old Timer

[Anonymous]

Get your self a good book like mine. "The Steam Locomotive A Century of North American Classics" by Jim Boyd. If this doesn't get you interested in steam, nothing will.

[bobwilcox]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

bobwilcox: Thanks. I read the article on the link. It's not really clear why the AMC designed Berkshire was better than the Lima or Alco Berkshires. Perhaps just a better engineered design? The article talks about the jump from 2-8-2 wheel layout to 2-8-4 as providing more carrying capacity for a bigger firebox. What would be the advantage of the 4 wheel leading trucks on some later designs?

A bigger firebox. The larger the grate area the more fuel you can burn at one time, the more heat and the more steam. The grate area on a USRA 2-8-2 was 70.8 sq ft., a B&A 2-8-4 100 sq ft and a UP Big Boy 150.3 sq ft.

[Murphy Siding]

bobwilcox: Thanks. I read the article on the link. It's not really clear why the AMC designed Berkshire was better than the Lima or Alco Berkshires. Perhaps just a better engineered design? The article talks about the jump from 2-8-2 wheel layout to 2-8-4 as providing more carrying capacity for a bigger firebox. What would be the advantage of the 4 wheel leading trucks on some later designs?

[bobwilcox]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

I've mentioned that steam locomotives didn't do much for me,but I have been doing quite a bit of railroad reading recently-so they might grow on me.[:)]

In the steam era, it appeared that nearly every railroad had almost custom designed engines, specifically for it's route. I'm familiar with some of the more famous ones:Big Boy, Challenger,Berkshire,J-1(? N&W), and a few others. What are some of the other well known types that other railroads had? And can you explain to this *diesel* fan what the signifigance of the type was? I still have a hard time seeing the difference between two similar types.

Thanks!

A very significant locomotive was Lima's Berkshire (2-8-4)for the Boston and Albany. This was the first super power steam engine with a significantly improved ability to produce much more steam per unit of enery input. They were the ancestor of Big Boys, N&W As and Js, SP Daylights, etc. etc. etc.

For further info take a look at http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/810hlyiy.asp

[Murphy Siding]

I've mentioned that steam locomotives didn't do much for me,but I have been doing quite a bit of railroad reading recently-so they might grow on me.[:)]

In the steam era, it appeared that nearly every railroad had almost custom designed engines, specifically for it's route. I'm familiar with some of the more famous ones:Big Boy, Challenger,Berkshire,J-1(? N&W), and a few others. What are some of the other well known types that other railroads had? And can you explain to this *diesel* fan what the signifigance of the type was? I still have a hard time seeing the difference between two similar types.

Thanks!