What do the numbers on a steam locomotive mean?
In this system numbers are assigned to the leading, driving, and trailing wheels of the locomotive. The first number is the number of leading wheels. The middle number (or numbers) give the number and arrangement of drivers. The last is the number of trailing wheels (typically under the firebox).
What is a 4 6 2 steam locomotive?
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles and two trailing wheels on one axle. The 4-6-2 locomotive became almost globally known as a Pacific type.
What was the diameter of the Selkirk’s drive wheels in inches?
It had 540 by 550 millimetres (21 by 22 inches) cylinders and 1,100 millimetres (43 inches) diameter driving wheels, with a working order mass of 107.8 tonnes (106.1 long tons; 118.8 short tons), a grate area of 5.4 square metres (58 square feet) and a tractive effort at 65% boiler pressure of 14,690 kilograms-force ( …
What Is A 2 10 2 steam locomotive?
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-10-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels, ten powered and coupled driving wheels, and two trailing wheels.
How are locomotives numbered?
In short, locomotives were numbered in a series commencing at 1. No gaps were allowed in the series, so a new locomotive would either be numbered at the end of the series or would reuse the number of an older locomotive.
Why do people collect train numbers?
So collecting numbers provided instant friendships and created safe social locations such as on platforms or railway viewing vantage points. It is also now acknowledged to have been a source of education as many researched the name of the engine.
What is a Pacific Steam Locomotive?
The 4-6-2 type, or “Pacific”, as the class was known, was the predominant steam passenger locomotive during the first five decades of the 20th century. One reasonably accurate estimate of the number of steam locomotives produced for Class 1 US and their Canadian equivalents are 75,000 units.
What does Big Boy use for fuel?
Coal
Union Pacific Big Boy
| hideSpecifications | |
|---|---|
| Fuel type | Coal (No. 4014 converted to No. 5 fuel oil) |
| Fuel capacity | 28 short tons (25.4 t; 25.0 long tons) |
| Water cap | 4884-1: 24,000 US gal (91,000 l; 20,000 imp gal) 4884-2: 25,000 US gal (95,000 l; 21,000 imp gal) |
| Firebox: • Firegrate area | 150 sq ft (14 m2) |
What is the largest steam locomotive ever built?
Big Boy
At more than 130 feet long — longer than two city buses — and 560 tons in weight, the “Big Boy” locomotives are generally accepted as the largest steam locomotives ever built anywhere, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
What do train numbers mean?
It consists of: A single-digit number, indicating the class (type) of train, followed by. A letter, indicating the destination area, followed by. A two-digit number, identifying the individual train or indicating the route (the latter generally for suburban services).
