Friday, August 21, 2015

Friday Night Steam

Let's take a close-up look at two giants!







Union Pacific 844 is a 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company in December of 1944 for the Union Pacific Railroad. Constructed as a member of the FEF-3class of 4-8-4's, the 844 was the last steam locomotive delivered to Union Pacific. Originally built for high-speed passenger work the 844, along with the other FEF class Northern's, was pressed into a variety of dual-service work. While commercial Union Pacific steam operations ended in the late 1950's, the 844 was retained by the railroad for special activities. Today, it is one of UP's oldest serving locomotives and is the only steam locomotive never retired by a North American Class I railroad.[2]

No. 844 was one of ten locomotives that were ordered by Union Pacific in 1944 and designated as class FEF-3. The FEF-3 class represented the epitome of dual-service steam locomotive development; funds and research were being concentrated into the development of diesel-electric locomotives. Designed to burn coal, they were converted to run on fuel oil. Like the earlier FEF-2 class, FEF-3 locomotives were designed as passenger engines. They pulled such trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger.

Union Pacific 844 hauling the Pony Express in 1949.
From 1957 to 1959, UP 844 was reassigned to freight service in Nebraska when diesel-electric locomotives took over passenger service.

Union Pacific 844 on display in 2009.
Saved from scrapping in 1960, 844 was chosen for restoration and is now used on company and public excursion trains, along with revenue freight during ferry moves.
Built and designed in a joint-effort between the Union Pacific and ALCO, the 844 and the rest of the FEF-3 class could safely handle 120 mph. On one occasion, one of the engines of the FEF-3 class pulled a 1,000-ton passenger train at a 100 mph. All FEF classes were considered by the Union Pacific to be capable of producing between 4,000 and 5,000 drawbar horsepower.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Union Pacific 844
Union Pacific 844, Painted Rocks, NV, 2009 (crop).jpg
UP 844 at Painted Rocks, Nevada, on September 15, 2009
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder American Locomotive Company
Serial number 72791
Build date December 1944
Specifications
Configuration 4-8-4
UIC classification 2′D2′ h2
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver diameter 80 in (2,032 mm)
Wheelbase Loco & tender: 98 ft 5 in (30.00 m)
Weight on drivers 266,490 lb (120,878 kg; 121 t)
Locomotive weight 486,340 lb (220,600 kg; 221 t)
Locomotive and tender
combined weight
907,890 lb (411,812 kg; 412 t)
Fuel type No. 5 fuel oil, originally coal
Fuel capacity 6,200 US gal (23,000 l; 5,200 imp gal)
Water capacity 23,500 US gal (89,000 l; 19,600 imp gal)
Boiler 86 316 in (2189.2 mm) diameter
Boiler pressure 300 lbf/in2 (2.07 MPa)
Firegrate area 100 sq ft (9.3 m2) (grate removed in 1945)
Heating surface:
– Tubes
2,204 sq ft (204.8 m2)
– Flues 1,578 sq ft (146.6 m2)
– Firebox 442 sq ft (41.1 m2)
– Total 4,224 sq ft (392.4 m2)
Superheater area 1,400 sq ft (130 m2)
Cylinders Two
Cylinder size 25 in × 32 in (635 mm × 813 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed 120 mph (190 km/h)
Power output 4,500 hp (3,400 kW)
Tractive effort 63,800 lbf (283.8 kN)
Factor of
adhesion
4.18
Career
Operator(s) Union Pacific Railroad
Class FEF-3
Number(s) 844 (8444 from 1962-1989)
Disposition Overhaul, based on Cheyenne, Wyoming, in roundhouse


Union Pacific 4014, or UP 4014, is a four-cylinder articulated 4-8-8-4 Big Boy-type steam locomotive owned by Union Pacific Railroad. 4014 was retired from service on July 21, 1959 and donated to the Railway & Locomotive Historical Society in Pomona on December 1961. The locomotive reached its destination in January 1962 and was displayed in Fairplex until November 2013. Union Pacific 4014 is currently in Union Pacific's Steam Shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming, undergoing extensive restoration work which is intended to return the engine to operational status. When 4014 officially returns to service, it will displace UP 3985 as the largest, heaviest and most powerful operational steam locomotive in the world.

History

UP 4014 was one of 25 4-8-8-4 class locomotives developed by Union Pacific and Alco to overcome issues with the preceding 4-6-6-4 Challenger class locomotives. It was determined that the goals that Union Pacific had set for its new class of locomotive could be achieved by making several changes to the existing Challenger design, including enlarging the firebox to approximately 235 by 96 inches (5.97 m × 2.44 m) (about 155 sq ft or 14.4 m2), lengthening the boiler, adding four driving wheels and reducing the size of the driving wheels from 69 to 68 in (1,753 to 1,727 mm).
The Big Boys are articulated, like the Mallet locomotive design. They were designed for stability at 80 miles per hour (130 km/h). They were built with a wide margin of reliability and safety, as they normally operated well below that speed in freight service. Peak horsepower was reached at about 35 mph (56 km/h); optimal tractive effort, at about 10 mph (16 km/h). The locomotive without the tender was the longest engine body of any reciprocating steam locomotive in the world.
Alco delivered No. 4014 to Union Pacific in December 1941 and it was fully retired on December 7, 1961. 4014 traveled 1,031,205 miles (1,659,564 km) for Union Pacific during its 20 years in service.
The last revenue train hauled by a Big Boy (No. 4015) ended its run in the evening of July 21, 1959. 4014 completed its last run earlier the same day at 1:50 in the morning. Most were stored operational until 1961, and four remained in operational condition at Green River, Wyoming until 1962. Their duties were assumed by diesel locomotives and gas turbine-electric locomotives (GTELs). Of the 25 built, 8 were preserved at various locations around the United States. 4014 was donated by Union Pacific to the Southern California chapter of the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society in 1961. It did not reach its destination of Pomona until January 8, 1962.

Union Pacific "Big Boy" Number 4014 on static display at the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California, United States
Union Pacific "Big Boy" Number 4014 on static display at the RailGiants Train Museum in Pomona, California, United States
Type and origin
References:[1]
Power type Steam
Builder American Locomotive Company
Serial number 65572
Build date September 1941
Specifications
Configuration 4-8-8-4
UIC classification (2′D)D2′ h4
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading wheel
diameter
36 in (914 mm)
Driver diameter 68 inches (170 cm)
Trailing wheel
diameter
42 in (1,067 mm)
Wheelbase 72 ft 5.5 in (22.09 m)
Length
  • Locomotive: 85 ft 7.8 in (26.11 m)
  • Overall: 132 ft 9 78 in (40.48 m)
Width 11 ft (3.4 m)
Height 16 ft 2 12 in (4.94 m)
Weight on drivers 540,000 lb (244,940 kilograms)
Locomotive weight 762,000 lb (345,637 kilograms)
Tender weight 342,200 lb (155,219 kilograms) (2/3 load)
Locomotive and tender
combined weight
1,250,000 lb (566,990 kilograms)
Fuel type Coal
Fuel capacity 28 short tons (25.4 t; 25.0 long tons)
Water capacity 24,000 US gal (91,000 l; 20,000 imp gal)
Boiler 95 in (2,400 mm)
Boiler pressure 300 lbf/in2 (2.1 MPa)
Firegrate area 150 sq ft (14 m2)
Heating surface:
– Tubes and flues
5,035 sq ft (468 m2)
– Firebox 720 sq ft (67 m2)
– Total 5,735 sq ft (533 m2)
Superheater type Type A
Superheater area 2,043 sq ft (190 m2)
Cylinders 4
Cylinder size 23.75 in × 32 in (603 mm × 813 mm)
Performance figures
Maximum speed 80 mph (130 km/h)
Power output 6,290 hp (4,690 kW)
Tractive effort 135,375 lbf (602.18 kN)
Factor of
adhesion
4.11
Career
Operator(s) Union Pacific Railroad
Number(s) 4014
Nicknames Big Boy
Last run July 21, 1959
Retired December 7, 1961
Restored Commenced August 2013
Current owner Union Pacific Railroad
Disposition Undergoing restoration for excursion service
Restoration includes conversion from coal to no. 5 oil.







No comments :

Post a Comment