Western Maryland J-1 Class

The Western Maryland J-1 class, also known as the Potomac, was a class of twelve 4-8-4 "Potomac" (Northern) type steam locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1947. They were operated by the Western Maryland Railway (WM) in revenue service until the mid-1950s. Like most railroads in the South, the WM did not choose the more common name "Northern", going with the name "Potomac" for their 4-8-4s instead.

Western Maryland J-1
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number73082-73093
Build dateJanuary 1947
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-8-4
 • UIC2′D2′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.69 in (1,753 mm)
Axle load72,500 lb (36.3 short tons) for drivers
Adhesive weight290,000 lb (145.0 short tons)
Loco weight506,500 lb (253.3 short tons)
Tender weight421,500 lb (210.8 short tons)
Total weight928,000 lb (464.0 short tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity60,000 lb (30.0 short tons)
Water cap.22,000 US gal (83,000 L; 18,000 imp gal)
Firebox:
 • Grate area106.7 sq ft (9.91 m2)
BoilerFiretube
Boiler pressure255 lbf/in2 (1.76 MPa)
Heating surface:
 • Firebox573 sq ft (53.2 m2)
Superheater:
 • Heating area2,170 sq ft (202 m2)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size26.5 in × 32 in (673 mm × 813 mm)
Valve gearWalschaert
Valve typePiston valves
Performance figures
Power output4,700 hp (3,500 kW) (Drawbar) @ 45 mph
Tractive effort70,591 lbf (314.00 kN)
Factor of adh.4.11
Career
OperatorsWestern Maryland Railway
ClassJ-1
Number in class12
Numbers1401-1412
NicknamesPotomac
RetiredBy 1954
DispositionAll scrapped

They were built to haul freight on the WM mainline and all were retired by 1954.

History

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The Western Maryland Railway (WM) was the last North American railroad to adopt the 4-8-4 "Northern" type, and as a railroad that primarily ran within the Southeastern United States, the WM chose to call their 4-8-4s "Potomacs", as named after the Potomac River. These new locomotives were the last new steam locomotives the WM purchased, and as such, they were very modern, efficient and powerful, as well as having relatively large boilers. They also held Timken roller bearings on every driver and tender axle and on the back end of the eccentric rod. All link motion pins used needle bearings.[1] When running at forty-five miles per hour, the "Potomacs" had nearly the same performance as the larger M-2 class 4-6-6-4 "Challenger" types.[2] On the 1.75% grade west out of Cumberland, Maryland, the Potomacs were limited 1,180 tons unassisted.[3] On level trackage, they were capable of running upwards while pulling 5,500 tons, with an 8,000-ton limit for downhill journeys.[4]

Disposition

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Due to coming when most railroads were starting to dieselize, the "Potomacs" did not have long careers, being in service for only seven years before being retired and put into storage in Hagerstown and Cumberland in 1954.[5] They remained there until 1957, when the equipment trusts ran out and were subsequently scrapped. None of the J-1s have been preserved.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Western Maryland Railway: Map, History, Roster, Logo". American-Rails.com. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  2. ^ "Western Maryland 4-8-4 "Northern" Locomotives in the USA". SteamLocomotive.com. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  3. ^ "Maryland Junction/B164". www.wmwestsub.us. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  4. ^ "Grassroots Railroad Sports?". grassrootsmotorsports.com. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  5. ^ "Richard Leonard's Random Steam Photo Collection -- Western Maryland 4-8-4 1406". www.railarchive.net. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  6. ^ "Pictures of WM 1411". www.rrpicturearchives.net. Retrieved 2022-03-17.