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Maine Central Railroad Class W locomotives were intended for heavy freight service. They were of 2-8-0 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or "1'D" in UIC classification. They replaced earlier class O 4-6-0 locomotives beginning in 1910. They were in turn replaced by class S 2-8-2 locomotives for the heaviest freight service beginning in 1914, but remained in use on lighter freight trains until replaced by diesel locomotives after World War II.[1]

Maine Central class W
Type and origin Reference:[1] Power type Steam Builder ALCO Build date 1910–1914 Total produced 28
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-0  • UIC 1'D Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 33 in (838 mm) Driver dia. 63 in (1,600 mm) Wheelbase 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m) Length 71 ft 4 in (21.74 m) including tender Height 14 ft 8+1⁄4 in (4.48 m) Loco weight 198,000 lb (89.8 tonnes) Total weight 338,000 lb (153.3 tonnes) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 12 t Water cap. 7,000 US gal (26 m3) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 50.2 sq ft (4.66 m2) Boiler pressure 185 lbf/in2 (13.0 kg/cm2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 23 in × 28 in (584 mm × 711 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Tractive effort 37,000 lbf (164.6 kN)
Career Retired 1954 Preserved 2 (Remainder Scrapped)

Sub-classes

All were built in American Locomotive Company's plant at Schenectady, New York. The first nine built in 1910 (builders numbers 47732-47736 & 49207-49210) were 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg) lighter than the infobox figure. Sub-class W-1 consisted of seven locomotives added in 1912 (builders numbers 50933-50939) and eight more (builders numbers 52989-52996) delivered in 1913. The last four designated sub-class W-2 (builders numbers 54564-54567) were delivered in 1914 and were 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) heavier than the infobox figure.[1]

Preservation

Class W locomotives were numbered from 501 to 528 as delivered. Numbers 501 and 519 were officially property of the European and North American Railway (E&NA) as a condition of the lease of that company by the Maine Central Railroad. They therefore avoided scrapping until Maine Central purchased E&NA to remove the lease obligation in 1955. Two locomotives survived; No. 501 is awaiting to be restored to operating condition at the Conway Scenic Railroad and No. 519 was on display outside at the Steamtown National Historic Site, exposed to the elements.[2]

Replacement

When the Maine Central began purchasing diesel locomotives, road switchers were numbered in the 500 series previously reserved for the W class.[3] ALCO RS-2s and ALCO RS-3s were numbered 551 through 557, and EMD GP7s were numbered 561 through 569 and 571 through 581.[4]

References

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