Pittsburgh and Lake Erie class A-2a

The Pittsburgh and Lake Erie class A-2a was a class of seven 2-8-4 "Berkshire" type steam locomotives built by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) in Schenectady, New York for the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE) in 1948. They were also the last steam locomotives to be built by ALCO.

Pittsburgh and Lake Erie class A-2a
NYC No. 9401
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderAmerican Locomotive Company (ALCO)
Build dateMay-June 1948
Total produced7
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte2-8-4
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.63 in (1,600 mm)
Adhesive weight280,000 lb (127.0 tonnes)
Loco weight426,000 lb (193.2 tonnes)
Tender weight352,780 lb (160.0 tonnes)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity22 tonnes (49,000 lb)
Water cap.20,000 US gallons (76,000 L; 17,000 imp gal)
Boiler pressure230 psi (1.59 MPa)
Career
OperatorsPittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE)
New York Central Railroad (NYC)
ClassP&LE A-2a
Numbers9400-9406
RetiredAugust 1956
Scrapped1957
References:[1]

History

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In 1948, the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad (P&LE) purchased seven 2-8-4 "Berkshire" type steam locomotives from the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady New York and designated as the class A-2a and assigned road numbers 9400 through 9406.[2][3] The tenders were built by Lima and weighed in 22 tonnes (22,000,000 g; 22,000 kg).[4]

Delivered between May and June 1948, the class had a short life span even during the days of the New York Central Railroad (NYC) and were the last steam locomotives ever produced by ALCO. Nos. 9400 through 9406 were retired in August 1956 and all of them were scrapped in 1957.

References

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  1. ^ "Boston & Albany / Pittsburgh & Lake Erie 2-8-4 "Berkshire" Locomotives in the USA". www.steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice, 1950-52: Definitions, Drawings and Illustrations of Diesel, Steam, Electric and Turbine Locomotives for Railroad, Industrial and Foreign Service; Their Parts and Equipment; Descriptions and Illustrations of Locomotive Shops and Servicing Facilities. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company. 1950. p. 511.
  3. ^ Railroadman's Magazine. Vol. 60–61. 1953. p. 52.
  4. ^ Trains. Vol. 37. Kalmbach Publishing Company. 1976. p. 25.
  • Lucas, Walter A. (1951). Popular Picture and Plan Book of Railroad Cars and Locomotives. New York: Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp. p. 20.

Further reading

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