Santa Fe class 3460

ATSF 3460 class
File:ATSF 3461.jpg ATSF 3460 class #3461 hauling Train #8, the Fast Mail Express (11 cars) at approx. 35 mph. Photographed east of La Junta, Colorado on September 17, 1939 by Otto Perry.
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Build date 1937 Total produced 6
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-4  • UIC 2′C2′ h Gauge 4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) Leading dia. 37 in (940 mm) Driver dia. 84 in (2,134 mm) Trailing dia. 40 in (1,016 mm) Wheelbase Loco: 41 ft 1+1⁄2 in (12.53 m) Length Loco: 54 ft 3+3⁄4 in (16.55 m); Loco & tender: 112 ft 7 in (34.32 m) Width 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m) Height 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m) over raised stack extension Adhesive weight 211,400 lb (95.9 tonnes) Loco weight 412,380 lb (187.1 tonnes) Total weight 712,500 lb (323.2 tonnes) Fuel type Oil Fuel capacity 7,000 US gal (26,000 L; 5,800 imp gal) Water cap. 20,000 US gal (76,000 L; 17,000 imp gal) Tender cap. 7,000 US gallons (26,500 L) oil, 20,000 US gallons (75,700 L) water Firebox: ​  • Grate area 99.5 sq ft (9.24 m2) Boiler pressure 300 lbf/in2 (2.07 MPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 23.5 in × 29.5 in (597 mm × 749 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type Piston valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 49,300 lbf (219.3 kN) Factor of adh. 4.3
Career Number in class 6 Preserved 3463, in Topeka, Kansas Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's 3460 class comprised six 4-6-4 "Hudson" type steam locomotives built in 1937 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for service between La Junta, Colorado and Chicago, Illinois, a fairly flat division of the railroad suited for the 4-6-4 type. They were substantially larger than the road's earlier 3450 class locomotives, and all were built oil-fired, although in a manner that would allow for easy conversion to coal firing.

They had much in common with the Milwaukee Road's class F7 and the Chicago and North Western Railway's class E-4, all three types being fast, 84-inch drivered 4-6-4s for Midwestern service with 300 lb/in² boiler pressures.

In December 1937, locomotive #3461 (pictured) set a world record for the longest single run by a steam locomotive by completing the 2227 miles from Los Angeles, California to Chicago without maintenance other than five refuelling stops en route, hauling Train #8, the Fast Mail Express. An average speed of 45 mph was attained, including stops; maximum speed during the run was 90 mph. During steeply graded portions of the run it was, of course, assisted by helper locomotives. Such long distance runs were a goal of railway operating departments, enabling a reduction in locomotive numbers and through increased locomotive utilization, reduce overall costs.

The first locomotive, #3460, was built streamlined; painted light, robin's egg blue and silver, it became known as the "Blue Goose". It was the Santa Fe's only streamlined steam locomotive, featuring extensively in railroad publicity and was a railfan favorite.

Locomotive #3461 was fitted with a streamlined "skyline" casing along the top of the boiler, encasing stack and domes, in an experiment to see if it helped clear smoke away from the locomotive. It was not retained. All of the locomotives otherwise had a Santa Fe-style telescoping stack extension fitted, which elongated the stack to clear smoke better and could be lowered to pass under low bridges and tunnels.

The 3460 class 4-6-4s, the 3765 class 4-8-4s, and the 5001 class 2-10-4s were designed and ordered around the same time and had much in common in their designs; in addition, they used the same six-axle tender design. The classes together were often called the "Big Three".

One locomotive survives, #3463, on static exhibit in Topeka, Kansas.

References

• Westcott, Linn H. (1960). Model Railroader Cyclopedia - Volume 1: Steam Locomotives. Kalmbach Books. ISBN 0-89024-001-9.
• Barris, Wes. "Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Hudsons". SteamLocomotive.com. Retrieved 2006-01-22.
• Blaszak, Michael and Glischinski, Steve (2002). Santa Fe Railway. MBI. ISBN 0-7603-0380-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)