Big boy weight markings or any steam engine for that matter

Trains Magazine General Discussion
1

Greetings

My wife and I were having a discussion last night on the weight of locomotives, due to my house being on the market my books are all packed up so I couldnt look up the information.

The markings on the cab sides below the windows on most steam locomotives would usually list the weight. Is this an empty weight ie: no water or fuel in either tender, firebox or boiler or a full weight of the above items?

Thanks

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UP and SP locomotives, you mean. They only give the engine’s weight on drivers, don’t they? Not the total weight, and not the tender weight?

And it would certainly include water in the boiler-- dunno what level in the glass.

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[quote user=“UNIONPACIFIC4018”]

Greetings

My wife and I were having a discussion last night on the weight of locomotives, due to my house being on the market my books are all packed up so I couldnt look up the information.

The markings on the cab sides below the windows on most steam locomotives would usually list the weight. Is this an empty weight ie: no water or fuel in either tender, firebox or boiler or a full weight of the above items?

Thanks

Does she have a sister? Where do I find a wife that would even know enough to discuss a subject like this, never mind be interested to discuss it, You are a LUCKY MAN!!!

Okay, back to your question, the weight listed on the side of the cab is the weight on the drivers (Bigboy was 540, 540,000# I believe) although the water level in the boiler would have some effect, it wouldn’t be that great of a difference. Remember you are talking about well over half a million pounds, and these weight posting were just ball park not to the pound.

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