I want to model a train in a book and it calls for a 2-8-0 locomotive in passenger service. In the book the engine is a 2-8-0 built in 1911 by ALCO. I want to know haw fast one of the ALCO engines could run, and the largest diameter of drive wheel on any 2-8-0 during or before 1914. If you are interested the book is “Night Probe” by Clive Cussler.
Thank You
Mike
Clive Cussler may be an entertaining writer but he does not know too much about railroading in 1914 since a 2-8-0 by that time was more likely to be found in local freight and transfer service, except maybe on D&H. Most 2-8-0’s were low-drivered low-speed locomotives.
Passenger power was usually a 4-4-2 for light trains or favorably graded lines or a 4-6-0 or 4-6-2 for most service.
Thank you for the Info. I had a feeling that might have been the answer.
Mike
the virginia and truckee railroad used a consolidation during this period for both passenger and mixed. i don’t think they cared how fast it was though.
I checked my database and found some MIlwaukee Road C5 engines that might do the trick. They had 63" drivers (the tallest I could find), a relatively large boiler and grate, and were superheated to a useful degree. The tender was kind of small and you are still dealing with plain bearings, but what do you want from a Consolidation?
TH&B # 103 preserved engine in the Hamilton (Ontario) area is fited with steam lines (for passenger service?). This is a consolidation with (I think) 57" drivers so she was no speedster but was apparently used for passenger service.
Regards
Big Dave
I recall reading somewhere that the “rule of thumb” of steam loco speed was the maximum was equal to the driver diameter in inches eg 63 mph from the 63" driver mentioned above. Obviously there were lots of exceptions as the largest diameter drivers I can recall are 90" and I doubt a 0-6-0 switcher could achieve 51mph.
The Pennsylvania owned 414 2-8-0s in the Class H10s. Of these 45 were equipped with train heating steam lines and air signal lines and were used regularly in passenger service. Timetable special instructions restricted them to 50mph unless otherwise restricted. 50mph may have been exceeded on occasion by a particuarly lively H10, but not by much. The Boston & Maine 2700 series 2-8-0s were used regularly in passenger service. ICC rules required any locomotive handling passenger trains must be equipped with signal lines and ancillary equipment and this equipment must be subject to periodic inspection and maintained in good order.
The D&H regularly used elephant eared wooten firebox 2-8-0’s on its regular commuter type Scranton-Carbondale trains. Coaches for this service were open-platform, roller-bearing, arch-roof steel cars. Believe the 2-8-0’s were equipped with communication, steam heat, and head=end power for lighting.