Chesapeake and Ohio class T-1

C&O T-1 class
T-1 locomotive No. 3021 operating in 1941
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Lima Locomotive Works Serial number 7516–7555 Build date 1930 Total produced 40
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-10-4  • UIC 1′E2′ 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 forty 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 Berkshire locomotive , 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.