"Russian" Decs

Trains.com General Discussion (Trains.com)
1

Forgive my ignorance, but I was under the impression that “Russian” decapod is just like Consolidation. It is a term to refer to a class, not so much a specific type. If there is a difference between a “Russian” decapod, and some other type, please enlighten me.

As to operating decapods, the Strasburg RR has #90, a former Great Western 2-10-0 built, and used for the sugar beet trade, but now hauling passenger trains around.

The summer after I graduated from High School, and before I left for basic training, one of my shop teachers got me a job, so I worked for the SRR. I had the privilege of learning to be a fireman, and I fired PRR D16sb #1223, , and both #89, and 90. My favorite was 1223, by far. She took fire, like she loved it. #90 was the hardest to fire, as she has a wide firebox, and with my shorter stature, and therefore arms, it was tough sometimes to keep the back corners covered. 89 was OK, but she was having a bad summer that year, and spent a lot of time down for maintenance. #31, the old Reading 0-6-0, complete with it’s Wooten firebox, was long since retired, and the former PRR GE 44 toner still had her SRR red, and black paint scheme. #1, the small gas loco, was around, but I never saw her turn a wheel, while I worked there.

#7002 came over a couple years after I left, and the current crop of steamers were several years away at the time.

Horse

2

The “Russian” decapods were the undelivered part of an order the Czar’s Railroad Ministry had built in the US by Baldwin and Alco. 200 locomotives were completed, but undelivered, when WWI and the Russian revolution made both transportation and payment an iffy proposition. The USRA tried to allocate them to US railroads, without any success. Later, when they were auctioned off, quite a few ended up on various US railroads, mostly lines with lightly built branches. The gauge was reduced from 5 feet to 4’ 8 1/2" by changing wheelsets and driver tires. They also lost their buffers and were fitted with knuckle couplers.

As 2-10-0s go, the Russians were lightweight, low-pressure (180#) and slow (52 inch drivers.) Comparing one to a PRR I1 would be like comparing my Toyota pickup to a dump truck.

Chuck

3

OK, that makes sense.

Thanks Chuck!

Horse

4

As I recall, a Consolidation was a 4-8-0, not a 2-10-0.

5

Consolidation was the usual designation for a 2-8-0 - and most American-built Consolidations weighed more, and had more tractive effort, than a Russian Decapod.

Chuck

6

The Erie Railroad bought 75 Russian Decapods, the largest fleet in the U.S. They were used on branch lines and secondary lines.

7

Of course, Chuck. I was not thinking clearly yesterday–and I have no reference material here.

I did not realize that the Russian decapods were lighter than most Consolidations–and now I understand how the decapods could be used on this or that short line; what was that line in north Georgia that took advantage of their availability? Gainesville Midland?

8

WM had a small fleet of the Russian Decapods.