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The Atlantic Coast Line R-1 was a class of 12 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1938 and operated by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad until the early 1950s. They were immediately assigned to passenger service but eventually saw service pulling freight.

Atlantic Coast Line R-1 class
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 62174-62185 Build date March–May, 1938 Total produced 12
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-4  • UIC 2′D2′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 80 in (2,032 mm) Wheelbase 97 ft 11 in (29.85 m) Height 16 ft (4,877 mm) Axle load 65,792 lb (29,843 kg; 29.371 long tons) Adhesive weight 263,127 lb (119,352 kg; 117.467 long tons) Loco weight 460,270 lb (208,770 kg; 205.48 long tons) Tender weight 435,500 lb (197,500 kg; 194.4 long tons) Total weight 895,770 lb (406,310 kg; 399.90 long tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 27 short tons (24 t) Water cap. 24,000 US gal (91,000 l; 20,000 imp gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 97.75 sq ft (9.081 m2) Boiler 86+3⁄16 in (2,189 mm) Boiler pressure 275 lbf/in2 (1.90 MPa) Heating surface 4,749 sq ft (441.2 m2)  • Firebox 568 sq ft (52.8 m2) Superheater: ​  • Type Type 'A'  • Heating area 1,497 sq ft (139.1 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 27 in × 30 in (686 mm × 762 mm) Valve gear Walschaert
Performance figures Maximum speed 100 mph (160 km/h) Tractive effort 63,900 lbf (284.24 kN) Factor of adh. 4.12
Career Operators Atlantic Coast Line Class R-1 Numbers 1800–1811 Retired 1951-1952 Disposition All scrapped

History

Upon delivery to the Atlantic Coast Line, the locomotives were immediately put in passenger service due to an increase in passenger business in the 1930s. Their P class Pacifics handled no more than 14 passenger cars without double-heading. The R-1s handled passenger trains up to 21 heavyweight cars, eliminating the need for double-heading and ran extra sections of many of the Richmond, Virginia to Jacksonville, Florida passenger trains. While they were more powerful than their Pacifics as well as being faster, running as fast as 90 mph and probably 100 mph without much trouble reaching such speeds, the ACL was very disappointed with them, as they had poor counterbalancing and were returned to Baldwin to solve the problem. When delivered, they had a bad dynamic augment. Even after the rebuild with new disk driving wheels, they still had unacceptable amounts of dynamic augment at high speeds, as their counterbalancing weights were too high, which led to the locomotive's drivers pounding at high speeds and was said that the main drivers actually left the rails and repeatedly slammed back down, kinking rails and damaging track alignment for miles. Despite their flaws, they were capable pullers. No. 1800 accelerated a 20-car, 1500-ton passenger train from a dead stop to 70 miles per hour in 11+1⁄2 minutes and 11 miles in a test. The class also ran as many as 18,000 miles a month in passenger service. R-1s Nos. 1800, 1801, 1806, 1807, 1808 and 1809 ran even more smoothly once they were fitted with lightweight pistons by Timken, piston rods, cross heads, and, probably most important, tapered main rods with roller bearing wrist pins. The class is rated at 6,200 tons on the Richmond to Jacksonville mainline.[1] With dieselization taking effect, the locomotives were put in freight service. Retirement started in 1951 and by 1952, all have been retired.[2]

Tenders

The R-1 class were equipped with very large tenders holding 24,000 US gallons (91,000 l; 20,000 imp gal) of water and 27 short tons (24 long tons) of coal. They were mounted on a pair of eight-wheel trucks. The weight of the tender, fully loaded was 217 short tons (194 long tons)[3] In 1953, eight of the R-1 tenders were sold to the Norfolk and Western Railway and used on their Y-4 class of 2-8-8-2s until 1958, when they were scrapped.[1]

Disposition

None of the R-1s have been preserved, as all were scrapped by 1952 and the remaining eight tenders lasted on the Norfolk and Western until 1958, the same year they were scrapped.[1]

Roster

Number	Baldwin serial number	Date built	Disposition	Notes
1800	62174	March 1938	Scrapped on December 20, 1951.
1801	62175	March 1938	Scrapped on June 20, 1952.
1802	62176	March 1938	Scrapped on June 20, 1952.
1803	62177	March 1938	Scrapped on December 20, 1951.[4]
1804	62178	March 1938	Scrapped on December 20, 1951.
1805	62179	March 1938	Sold for scrap.
1806	62180	May 1938	Sold for scrap.
1807	62181	May 1938	Sold for scrap.
1808	62182	May 1938	Scrapped on June 20, 1952.
1809	62183	May 1938	Sold for scrap.
1810	62184	May 1938	Sold for scrap.
1811	62185	May 1938	Scrapped on June 20, 1952.

References

Bibliography

• Tillotson Jr., Curt (2000). Classic Steam Trains of the South (1st ed.). TLC Publishing. ISBN 1-883089-55-7.

Further reading

• Griffin Jr., William E. (2001). Atlantic Coast Line: The Standard Railroad of the South (1st ed.). TLC Publishing. ISBN 978-1-883089-62-7.
• Prince, Richard E. (2000). Atlantic Coast Line Railroad: Steam Locomotives, Ships, and History (2nd ed.). Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-33694-1.

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