Pennsylvania Railroad class T1

Pennsylvania Railroad T1
T1 prototype #6110 at the Baldwin plant ready for delivery to the PRR
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Ralph P. Johnson[1] Raymond Loewy[2] Builder Altoona Works (#5500–5524) Baldwin Locomotive Works (#5525–5549, 6110–6111) Pennsylvania Railroad T1 Steam Locomotive Trust (#5550)[3] Serial number Altoona 4560–4584 BLW 72764–72788 (#5525–5519) Build date 1942 (#6110–6111) 1945–46 (#5500–5549) 2014–Present (#5550)[3] Total produced 52
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-4-4  • UIC 2′BB2′ Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 36 in (914 mm) Driver dia. 80 in (2,032 mm) Trailing dia. 42 in (1,067 mm) Length 122 ft 9 3⁄4 in (37.43 m) Width 11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) Height 6111: 16 ft 6 in (5.03 m)[4] Axle load 71,680 lb (32,510 kg; 32.51 t) Adhesive weight 279,910 lb (127,000 kg; 127.0 t) Loco weight 502,200 lb (227,800 kg; 227.8 t) Tender weight Empty: 197,400 lb (89,540 kg; 89.54 t); Loaded: 442,500 lb (200,700 kg; 200.7 t) Tender type 180 P 84 Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 85,200 lb (38,650 kg; 38.65 t) Water cap 19,200 US gal (73,000 l; 16,000 imp gal) Boiler pressure 300 lbf/in2 (2.07 MPa) Heating surface 5,639 sq ft (523.9 m2)  • Firebox 490 sq ft (45.5 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 1,430 sq ft (132.9 m2) Cylinders Four Cylinder size 19.75 in × 26 in (502 mm × 660 mm) Valve type Poppet valves
Performance figures Maximum speed over 100mph Power output 6,500hp+ Tractive effort 64,650 lbf (287.6 kN) (85%)[5] Factor of adh. 4.33
Career Operators Pennsylvania Railroad Class T1 Number in class 52 original, plus 1 under construction[3] Numbers 6110, 6111, 5500-5549, 5550 Withdrawn 1952–1953[6] Preserved 0 Scrapped 1953–1956[6][3] Disposition Original 52 scrapped, 1 under construction

The Pennsylvania Railroad's 52 T1 class duplex-drive 4-4-4-4 steam locomotives, introduced in 1942 (2 prototypes) and 1945-1946 (50 production), were their last steam locomotives built and their most controversial. They were ambitious, technologically sophisticated, powerful, fast, and distinctively streamlined by Raymond Loewy. However, they were also prone to wheelslip both when starting and at speed, complicated to maintain, and expensive to run. The PRR vowed in 1948 to place diesel locomotives on all express passenger trains, leaving unanswered questions of whether the T1's flaws were solvable. An article in the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical and Historical Society Magazine published in 2008 revealed that the wheel-slip problems may have been caused by the failure to properly educate engineers transitioning to the T1, resulting in excessive throttle applications, which in turn caused the driving wheels to slip.^[7] Another root cause of wheel slip was faulty spring equalization. The drivers were equalized together and not equalized with the engine truck. In the production fleet, the PRR equalized the engine truck with the front engine and the trailing truck with the rear engine which helped to solve the wheel-slip problem.^[8]

Development

PRR T1 #6110, one of the two prototypes of Class T1. Its streamlined casting was designed by renowned industrial design Raymond Loewy, with details different from the 50 production engines.

Before the T1, the last production express passenger engine the PRR had produced was the K4s of 1914, produced until 1928. Two experimental enlarged K5 locomotives were produced in 1929, but they were not considered enough of an improvement to be worthwhile. After that the PRR's attention switched to electrification and the production of electric locomotives; apparently the railroad had no need for more steam locomotives.

But the deficiencies of the K4s became more obvious during the 1930s. They were fine locomotives, but as train lengths increased they proved too small; double headed K4s locomotives became the norm on many trains. The railroad had locomotives to spare, but paying two crews on two locomotives per train was expensive. Meanwhile, other railroads were leaping ahead, developing larger passenger power. Rival New York Central built 4-6-4 Hudsons, while other roads developed passenger 4-8-2 "Mountain" types and then 4-8-4 "Northern" designs. The PRR's steam power began to look outdated.

The PRR began to develop steam locomotives again in the mid-to-late 1930s, but with a difference. Where previous PRR locomotive policy had been conservative, new radical designs took hold. Designers from the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the PRR's longtime development partner, were eager to prove the viability of steam in the face of new competition from Diesel-electric locomotives, and persuaded the railroad to adopt Baldwin's latest idea: the duplex locomotive. This split the locomotive's driving wheels into two sets, each with its own pair of cylinders and rods. Previously, the only locomotives with two sets of drivers were articulated locomotives, but the duplex used one rigid frame. In a duplex design, cylinders could be smaller and the weight of side and main rods could be drastically reduced. Given that the movement of the main rod could not be fully balanced, the duplex design would reduce "hammer blow" on the track. The lower reciprocating mass meant that higher speeds could be achieved. Use of poppet valves also increased the speed because they gave very accurately-timed steam delivery to the cylinders. However, there was a drawback of the metallurgy used; the poppet valve could not take the stress of sustained high speed operation (meaning over 100 mph (160 km/h) on production T1s).

The first PRR duplex was the single experimental S1 #6100 of 1939. It was powerful and managed to reach 100.97 miles per hour (162.50 km/h) on level track with 1350 tons passenger stock behind her, its mixed performance encouraged PRR continued to develop duplex steam locomotive. Since S1 was built unnecessarily large for her exhibition at the 1939 New York World's Fair until October 1940 , its turning radius prohibited it from operating over most of the PRR's network. The 6-4-4-6 design reduced driving set traction to the point that it was especially prone to wheelslip, thus only one Class S1 was built. The PRR returned to Baldwin to develop a duplex design fit for series production. Two Baldwin prototypes (#6110 and #6111) was ordered by PRR at a cost of $600,000 in June 26, 1940.^[9] Both prototypes encountered numerous teething problems and also prone to wheelslip if they were not carefully handled by the engineer, but they delivered glowing test reports on the test plan, resulting in a production order for 50 T1s, split between the PRR's own Altoona Works and Baldwin. On Dec 20, 1944, PRR Board authorizes the construction of 50 Class T1 locomotives for $14,125,000. Baldwin's chief designer, Ralph P. Johnson, was responsible for the mechanical aspects of the new class T1.^[1] Designer Raymond Loewy obtained US Patent D 136,260 for an early T1 conceptual design with a high-mounted cab located over the forward driving set.^[10] While that suited Baldwin's objective of making the most distinctive steam locomotive possible, practical considerations led the T1 design to be revised to the conventional cab position with a slight modification of the unique nose design included in Loewy's patent.

The last production T1 (#5549) entered service on August 27, 1946.^[11] The machines used the PRR 3 chime standard whistle used in the passenger locomotives. Engine #5539 developed 5,012 hp (3,737 kW), as tested between September 11, 1946 and September 14, 1946 by Chesapeake and Ohio Railway dynamometer car DM-1 while on loan to C&O. In 1944 #6110, tested on the Stationary Test Plant in Altoona, developed 6,550 hp (4,880 kW) in the cylinders at 85 mph (137 km/h).^[12]

Due to their complexity relative to other steam locomotive designs, T1s were known to be difficult to maintain. Recommended to a maximum speed of 100 miles per hour (161 km/h), T1s were so powerful that they could easily exceed their designed load and speed limitations, which in turn often caused wear and tear issues. A technician charged with determining the cause of frequent poppet valve failures on the T1s claimed to have observed them being operated at speeds of up to 140 mph (225 km/h) to make up time. The T1 was designed to run reliably at speeds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h). Although such reports are viewed as dubious, some think T1s regularly exceeded 100 mph (161 km/h), making them among the fastest steam locomotives ever built. The price paid for such speed was higher maintenance costs and increased failures in service.

The T-1 4-4-4-4 had such power that the engineer, if not careful on the throttle, could have violent wheel slip at a wide speed range, causing damage to the poppet valves. They were described as "free steaming", meaning they could maintain boiler pressure regardless of throttle setting.

A T1 prototype leaves Chicago's Union Station in February 1943 with the Manhattan Limited to New York.

Fate

Most T1s were degraded to power secondary train when the PRR Board decided to dieselize all first class prime train in 1948. Some of them were withdrawn from passenger service as early as 1949. All of them were out of service by 1952. All T1 locomotives were sold for scrap between 1951 and late 1955. The last engines were towed westward for scrapping in early 1956. However, an exact scale live steam replica in 1 inch/foot scale (1:12) has been built by Ed Woodings, using the original T1 plans. In addition, the T1 has proven a fairly popular subject to be reproduced in model form. A rather loose version of a PRR T1 also appeared in the 2004 film Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.

No. 5550

A non-profit group known as The T1 Trust plans to build an all-new, fully operational T1 using the original plans with subtle performance improvements where necessary.^[3] The T1 Trust's goal is to provide mainline excursion service and to set the world speed record for a steam locomotive currently held by the LNER Class A4 4468 Mallard at 126 mph.^[13] It is worth mentioning the original T1s were reported to have broken Mallard's speed record as far back as 1948, but these claims have never been officially confirmed.^[14] The T1 Trust's cost estimate to build T1 number 5550 is $10 million with an expected completion date of 2030.^[3] The construction of 5550 is also following construction and financing methods pioneered by the LNER Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado project.^[15] The first piece of the locomotive, the keystone shaped number plate, was cast in April 2014, followed by the first minor component, a driving spring link pin, in October 2014. The headlamp was constructed and given to The T1 Trust by a donor in mid 2015. On February 26, 2016 the first driving wheel for 5550 was cast. The massive and complex Boxpok driver weighs 2,500 pounds. In October 2016, construction began on the iconic prow of the locomotive using aircraft grade aluminum framework and plating. On January 18, 2017, the first frames for the cab of 5550 were cut and prepared for assembly. Similar to the prow, the cab frames are made of aircraft grade aluminum. The second Boxpok driver, originally ordered on December 9, 2016, was delivered to the Trust on March 15, 2017. The prow and cab were the next items to be completed in May and July 2017 respectively. A Coast to Coast tender from a former M1 class Mountain 4-8-2 was bought in August 2017. ^[16] As of May 4th, 2018, some progress has been made on the tube sheet and 3 boiler courses are on order.

See also

• South Australian Railways 520 class, an Australian locomotive with similar streamlining style.

References

Further reading

• Staufer, Alvin (1962). Pennsy Power. Staufer. pp. 216–225. LOC 62-20872.
• Brian Reed (June 1972). Loco Profile 24: Pennsylvania Duplexii. Profile Publications.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pennsylvania Railroad T1.

• Chesapeake & Ohio Tests the PRR T1 - Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Magazine, May 2005 by Stephenson, David R - The C&O test report contains information that is not widely known, and some of it contradicts generally accepted beliefs about the T1.
• Photos of PRR 4-4-4-4 locomotives
• An N Scale PRR T1 4-4-4-4 scratchbuilding project
• A group that intends to build a full size PRR T1
• YouTube video displaying the operation of T1's on the Pennsylvania Railroad - At 3 minutes and 15 seconds, an example of the T1's infamous wheel slip can be observed.