California Fruit Exchange Lumber Department 2-6-2 "Prairie" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 1 (Locobase 15309)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Vol 73, p. 236+. See also the CFE description at [] Works number was 58050 in October 1924.

Located on the bend of the Feather River known as the Mohawk Valley, Graeagle was the home of the Blue Anchor Brand. The CFE was formed in 1901 by a group of Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley orchard growers and packing houses for fruits and nuts. Its lumber department harvested the ponderosa pine and sugar pine sawn into box shook to make the millions of crates used to ship fruit.

The 1 was a typical small logging Prairie tank, albeit one fitted with a good amount of superheater area and 8" (203 mm) piston valves.

In April 1938, the CFE sold the 1 to the California Western as their #14. After its retirement in May 1952, it languished on a side track until Ben Rudolph bought the engine in 1956. The 14 was stored on the Rudolph estate.

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class1
Locobase ID15309
RailroadCalifornia Fruit Exchange Lumber Department
CountryUSA
Whyte2-6-2T
Number in Class1
Road Numbers1
GaugeStd
Number Built1
BuilderBaldwin
Year1924
Valve GearWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 8.67 / 2.64
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)24.67 / 7.52
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.35
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)24.67 / 7.52
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)85,000 / 38,555
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)116,000 / 52,617
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)116,000
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)1200 / 4.55
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)500 / 1893
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)47 / 23.50
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)44 / 1118
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 12.40
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)15" x 24" / 381x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)18,777 / 8517.11
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.53
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)80 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)13 - 5.375" / 137
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)13 / 3.96
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)72 / 6.69
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)17.20 / 1.60
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)849 / 78.90
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)186 / 17.29
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)1035 / 96.19
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume172.91
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation3096
Same as above plus superheater percentage3653
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area15,293
Power L17751
Power MT603.11

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