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Soo Line B-4 class

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Soo Line B-4 class
Soo Line No. 346 locomotive in Tracy, MN
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderAmerican Locomotive Company
Build date1915 (6), 1920 (5)
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte0-6-0
 • UICC h2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.51 in (1,295 mm)
WheelbaseLoco: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Length58 ft 10+38 in (17.94 m)
Width10 ft 5 in (3.18 m)
Height15 ft 3+12 in (4.66 m)
Axle load51,500 lb (23.4 tonnes)
Loco weight151,000 lb (68.5 tonnes)
Tender weight102,900 lb (46.7 tonnes)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity16,000 lb (7.3 tonnes)
Water cap.5,000 US gal (19,000 L; 4,200 imp gal)
Boiler pressure180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa)
CylindersTwo, outside
Cylinder size20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Tractive effort31,200 lbf (138.78 kN)
Career
OperatorsMinneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (Soo Line)
ClassB-4
Number in class11
Numbers344–354
Preserved#346; #353
DispositionTwo preserved, of which one is operational

The Soo Line B-4 class were 0-6-0 steam locomotives constructed for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (Soo Line) by the American Locomotive Company. Six (#344–349) were built at their Schenectady plant in 1915, with a further five (#350–354) being constructed by their Brooks plant in Dunkirk, New York, in 1920.

They were the last, and largest design of purpose-built switch engines that the Soo Line owned, any heavier switching duties were performed by down-graded 2-8-0 freight engines. All were still on the active roster in May 1953,[1] but all had been retired by the end December 1954 when the railroad completed its dieselization.

Two are preserved[2] - #346 from the first batch, which is displayed at the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum at Tracy, Minnesota, as Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern #9, and #353 from the second batch, which is operational and gives free rides annually at the Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion, Rollag, Minnesota.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Soo Line Locomotive Roaster, May 1953". Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  2. ^ "Surviving Soo Line locomotives". Steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
  • Gjevre, John A. (1990) [1973]. Saga of the Soo, West from Shoreham (Second ed.). Moorhead, Minnesota: Gjevre Books. p. 176.