Chesapeake and Ohio class T-1

C&O T-1 class
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Lima Locomotive Works Serial number 7516-7555 Build date 1930 Total produced 30
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-10-4  • UIC 2′D2′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 69 in (1,753 mm) Wheelbase Loco & tender: 98.64 ft (30.07 m) Axle load 75,000 lb (34,000 kilograms; 34 metric tons) Adhesive weight 373,000 lb (169,000 kilograms; 169 metric tons) Loco weight 566,000 lb (257,000 kilograms; 257 metric tons) Tender weight 415,000 lb (188,000 kilograms; 188 metric tons) Total weight 981,000 lb (445,000 kilograms; 445 metric tons) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 30 t (30 long tons; 33 short tons) Water cap. 23,500 US gal (89,000 L; 19,600 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 121.70 sq ft (11.306 m2) Boiler 108 in (2,743 mm) Boiler pressure 265 lbf/in2 (1.83 MPa) Originally 260 lbf/in2 (1.79 MPa) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 29 in × 34 in (737 mm × 864 mm) Valve gear Baker
Performance figures Maximum speed 50 mph (80 km/h) Tractive effort 93,345 lbf (415.22 kN) 108,620 lbf (483.17 kN) with booster Factor of adh. 4.00
Career Operators Chesapeake and Ohio Class T-1 Numbers 3000–3039 Retired 1952-1953 Disposition All scrapped

The Chesapeake and Ohio T-1 was a class of 30 2-10-4 steam locomotives built by the Lima Locomotive Works in Lima, Ohio in 1930 and operated until the early 1950s.

History and design

The Chesapeake and Ohio tested an Erie 2-8-4, then stretched the design by adding one more driving axle, creating the 2-10-4. Theys were equipped with a trailing truck booster that exerted 15,275 pounds of tractive effort. They could pull the same train as a 2-8-8-2 and do it faster. The locomotives mainly operated between Russell, Kentucky to Toledo, Ohio, with a few ending up in eastern Virginia. They were rated at 160 loaded coal cars, weight 13,500 tons. They also sported the most heating surface of any two-cylinder steam locomotive, with a combined heating surface of 9654 square feet.

Despite their overall success, their long-wheelbase made it difficult to maintain a proper counterbalancing scheme as the drivers wore unevenly in service. Later in their careers, the T-1s rode roughly and pounded the track to the point that a special gang stood by at the bottom of one long grade to repair the damage.

In 1942, the Pennsylvania Railroad based 125 of their J1 class 2-10-4s off of the T-1s with slight modifications.

Accidents and incidents

On May 12, 1948, no. 3020 suffered a boiler explosion due to a low water level near Chillicothe, Ohio. The engineer, fireman and front brakeman were killed.

Disposition

The C&O retired their T-1s starting in 1952 in favor of diesels and by 1953, all have been retired. None have been preserved.