Atlantic Coast Line class R-1

The Atlantic Coast Line R-1 was a class of 12 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1938 and operated by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad until the early 1950s. They were immediately assigned to passenger service but eventually saw service pulling freight.

Atlantic Coast Line R-1 class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number62174-62185
Build dateMarch–May, 1938
Total produced12
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-8-4
 • UIC2′D2′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.80 in (2,032 mm)
Wheelbase97.92 ft (29,846 mm)
Height16 ft (4,877 mm)
Axle load65,792 lb (29,843 kilograms; 29.843 metric tons)
Adhesive weight263,127 lb (119,352 kilograms; 119.352 metric tons)
Loco weight460,270 lb (208,770 kilograms; 208.77 metric tons)
Tender weight435,000 lb (197,000 kilograms; 197 metric tons)
Total weight895,270 lb (406,090 kilograms; 406.09 metric tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity27 t (27 long tons; 30 short tons)
Water cap24,000 US gal (91,000 l; 20,000 imp gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		97.75 sq ft (9.081 m2)
Boiler pressure275 lbf/in2 (1.90 MPa)
Heating surfacetubearea =
 • Firebox568 sq ft (52.8 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size27 in × 30 in (686 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gearWalschaert
Performance figures
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h)
Tractive effort63,901 lbf (284.25 kN)
Factor of adh.4.12
Career
OperatorsAtlantic Coast Line
ClassR-1
Numbers1800–1811
Retired1951-1952
DispositionAll scrapped

History

Upon delivery to the Atlantic Coast Line, the locomotives were immediately put in passenger service due to an increase in passenger business in the 1930s. Their P class Pacifics handled no more than 14 passenger cars without double-heading. The R-1s handled passenger trains up to 21 heavyweight cars, eliminating the need for double-heading and ran extra sections of many of the Richmond, Virginia to Jacksonville, Florida passenger trains. While they were more powerful than their Pacifics as well as being faster, running as fast as 90 mph and probably 100 mph without much trouble reaching such speeds, the ACL was very disappointed with them, as they had poor counterbalancing and were returned to Baldwin to solve the problem. When delivered, they had a bad dynamic augment. Even after the rebuild with new disk driving wheels, they still had unacceptable amounts of dynamic augment at high speeds, as their counterbalancing weights were too high, which led to the locomotive's drivers pounding at high speeds and was said that the main drivers actually left the rails and repeatedly slammed back down, kinking rails and damaging track alignment for miles. Despite their flaws, they were capable pullers. No. 1800 accelerated a 20-car, 1500-ton passenger train from a dead stop to 70 miles per hour in ​11 1⁄2 minutes and 11 miles in a test. The class also ran as many as 18,000 miles a month in passenger service. R-1s Nos. 1800, 1801, 1806, 1807, 1808 and 1809 ran even more smoothly once they were fitted with lightweight pistons by Timken, piston rods, cross heads, and, probably most important, tapered main rods with roller bearing wrist pins. The class is rated at 6,200 tons on the Richmond to Jacksonville mainline.[1] With dieselization taking effect, the locomotives were put in freight service. Retirement started in 1951 and by 1952, all have been retired.[2] In 1953, eight of the R-1 tenders were sold to the Norfolk and Western Railway and used on their Y-4 class of 2-8-8-2s until 1958, when they were scrapped.[1]

Disposition

None of the R-1s have been preserved, as all were scrapped by 1952 and the remaining eight tenders lasted on the Norfolk and Western until 1958, the same year they were scrapped.[1]

Roster
NumberBaldwin serial numberDate builtDispositionNotes
180062174March 1938Scrapped December 20, 1951.
180162175March 1938Scrapped June 20, 1952.
180262176March 1938Scrapped June 20, 1952.
180362177March 1938Sold for scrap.
180462178March 1938Scrapped December 20, 1951.
180562179March 1938Sold for scrap.
180662180May 1938Sold for scrap.
180762181May 1938Sold for scrap.
180862182May 1938Scrapped June 20, 1952.
180962183May 1938Sold for scrap.
181062184May 1938Sold for scrap.
181162185May 1938Scrapped June 20, 1952.

References
  1. "Atlantic Coast Line 4-8-4s". www.trainweb.org.
  2. "Atlantic Coast Line 4-8-4 "Northern" Locomotives in the USA". steamlocomotive.com.
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