Frost-Johnson Lumber Company 2-6-2 "Prairie" Locomotives in the USA


Class Details by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class 103 (Locobase 13718)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 36, p. 143. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 8 February 2015 email estimating the engine's wood capacity.) Works number was 36139 in February 1911.

Although deploying one more axle than did the 2-6-0 ordered at the same time for F-J railroad Louisiana & Pine Bluff (Locobase 11097), this was a lighter, smaller wood-burner, but with a generous 4-cord tender. It must have traveled to the end of track on all the little logging spurs used to harvest the vast stands of long-leaf pine in the region.


Class 104 (Locobase 14294)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 52, p. 335. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for supplying the wood fuel capacity.) Works number was 41926 in February 1915.

Each logging Prairie delivered to the FJLC was a bit bigger than the one that preceded it, so the 104 was larger than the 103 (Locobase 13718) and smaller than the 105 (Locobase 14944). All were wood-burners. The 104's tender was rated to carry four cords of wood.


Class 105 (Locobase 14944)

Data from DeGolyer Library, Volume 65, pp. 123+. (Thanks to Chris Hohl for the 105's fuel capacity.) Works number was 54232 in January 1921.

This wood-burning logging Prairie followed the 1915 Baldwin shown in Locobase 14294 into service. It had a boiler with a few more tubes of greater length, but the same power dimensions and grate area and like most such Baldwins, carried 3 cords of wood in the tender. F-J didn't have much wiggle room for size given the 35 lb/yard (17.5 kg) rail and the 19-degree curves (radii of 200 feet/61 metres).

Principal Dimensions by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media

Class103104105
Locobase ID13718 14294 14944
RailroadFrost-Johnson Lumber CompanyFrost-Johnson Lumber CompanyFrost-Johnson Lumber Company
CountryUSAUSAUSA
Whyte2-6-22-6-22-6-2
Number in Class111
Road Numbers103104105
GaugeStdStdStd
Number Built111
BuilderBaldwinBaldwinBaldwin
Year191119151921
Valve GearStephensonStephensonWalschaert
Locomotive Length and Weight
Driver Wheelbase (ft / m) 9.17 / 2.8010 / 3.0510 / 3.05
Engine Wheelbase (ft / m)23.75 / 7.2425.25 / 7.7025.58 / 7.80
Ratio of driving wheelbase to overall engine wheelbase 0.39 0.40 0.39
Overall Wheelbase (engine & tender) (ft / m)44.87 / 13.6846.52 / 14.1825.58 / 7.80
Axle Loading (Maximum Weight per Axle) (lbs / kg)
Weight on Drivers (lbs / kg)61,000 / 27,66977,000 / 34,92780,000 / 36,287
Engine Weight (lbs / kg)83,000 / 37,648102,000 / 46,266107,800 / 48,897
Tender Loaded Weight (lbs / kg)70,000 / 31,75270,000 / 31,75260,000 / 27,216
Total Engine and Tender Weight (lbs / kg)153,000 / 69,400172,000 / 78,018167,800 / 76,113
Tender Water Capacity (gals / ML)3500 / 13.263500 / 13.263000 / 11.36
Tender Fuel Capacity (oil/coal) (gals/tons / Liters/MT)
Minimum weight of rail (calculated) (lb/yd / kg/m)34 / 1743 / 21.5044 / 22
Geometry Relating to Tractive Effort
Driver Diameter (in / mm)46 / 116847 / 119444 / 1118
Boiler Pressure (psi / kPa)180 / 12.40180 / 12.40160 / 11
High Pressure Cylinders (dia x stroke) (in / mm)15" x 20" / 381x50816" x 24" / 406x61016" x 24" / 406x610
Tractive Effort (lbs / kg)14,967 / 6788.9320,001 / 9072.3118,991 / 8614.18
Factor of Adhesion (Weight on Drivers/Tractive Effort) 4.08 3.85 4.21
Heating Ability
Tubes (number - dia) (in / mm)147 - 2" / 51201 - 2" / 51215 - 2" / 51
Flues (number - dia) (in / mm)
Flue/Tube length (ft / m)11.87 / 3.6213.54 / 4.1313.54 / 4.13
Firebox Area (sq ft / m2)82.20 / 7.6492 / 8.5594 / 8.73
Grate Area (sq ft / m2)14.10 / 1.3114 / 1.3014 / 1.30
Evaporative Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)991 / 92.071508 / 140.101609 / 149.48
Superheating Surface (sq ft / m2)
Combined Heating Surface (sq ft / m2)991 / 92.071508 / 140.101609 / 149.48
Evaporative Heating Surface/Cylinder Volume242.30269.77287.84
Computations Relating to Power Output (More Information)
Robert LeMassena's Power Computation253825202240
Same as above plus superheater percentage253825202240
Same as above but substitute firebox area for grate area14,79616,56015,040
Power L1473049644364
Power MT512.85426.38360.79

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