Great Northern S-1

The Great Northern S-1 was a class of 6 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1929 and operated by the Great Northern Railway until the late 1950s. They were initially put in passenger service but eventually saw service pulling freight.

Great Northern S-1 class
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number60781–60782, 60807–60810
ModelBaldwin 16-50-​2⁄4-E, (#1 to #6)
Build dateApril–May, 1929
Total produced6
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte4-8-4
 • UIC2′D2′ h2
Gauge4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.73 in (1,854 mm)
Wheelbase94.90 ft (28,926 mm)
Axle load67,000 lb (30,000 kilograms; 30 metric tons)
Adhesive weight268,000 lb (122,000 kilograms; 122 metric tons)
Loco weight470,120 lb (213,240 kilograms; 213.24 metric tons)
Tender weight375,780 lb (170,450 kilograms; 170.45 metric tons)
Total weight847,900 lb (384,600 kilograms; 384.6 metric tons)
Tender typeVanderbilt
Fuel typeFuel oil
Fuel capacity5,800 US gal (22,000 l; 4,800 imp gal) oil
Water cap22,000 US gal (83,000 l; 18,000 imp gal)
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		102 sq ft (9.5 m2)
Boiler88 in (2,200 mm)
Boiler pressure250 lbf/in2 (1.72 MPa)
Heating surfacetubearea =
 • Firebox401 sq ft (37.3 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size28 in × 30 in (711 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gearWalschaert
Performance figures
Power output3,600 hp (2,700 kW)[1]
Tractive effort68,466 lbf (304.55 kN)
Factor of adh.4.00
Career
OperatorsGreat Northern
ClassS-1
Numbers2550–2555
Retired1956-1958
DispositionAll scrapped

History

Design

Initially intended for passenger pulling, the S-1s eventually found their way into pulling freight trains. The S-1 is capable of pulling 18 conventional steel passenger cars westbound and 13 cars eastbound, and 14 cars if the weather is favorable. Should passenger trains exceed such a number of cars eastbound, helper service is added between Walton and Summit. With the help of a pusher, they can pull up to 6,000 tons eastbound.[2] Only one S-1 was fitted with a vestibule cab, No. 2552.[3] Despite their overall success, they had a reputation for being hard on the rails.

Revenue service

When delivered, they were assigned for passenger service over the Divide between Havre and Whitefish, Montana, then in 1931, they were tested to pull freight between Whitefish, Montana and Hillyard, Washington. The test was a success and the S-1s were reassigned to pull freight trains, leaving the passenger runs mainly to the later S-2 Class of 1930. The S-1 continued pulling freight until dieselization. Retirement started on April 19, 1956 and by April 1958, all of the S-1s have been retired.[3]

Disposition

No S-1 has survived into preservation today, the first S-1 was sold for scrap on April 19, 1956 and by 1963, all of the S-1s have been scrapped.[3]

Roster
NumberBaldwin serial numberDate builtDispositionNotes
255060781April 1929Retired December 1957, scrapped 1963.
255160782April 1929Retired December 1957, scrapped 1963.
255260807May 1929Retired December 1957, Scrapped 1963.Received Vestibule cab.
255360808May 1929Sold for scrap April 19, 1956.
255460809May 1929Retired December 1957, scrapped 1963.
255560810May 1929Retired April 1958, scrapped 1963.

See also

References
  1. https://ctr.trains.com/~/media/files/pdf/4-8-4-locomotives/2-early-oil-4-8-4-dbhp.pdf
  2. "Baldwins on GN". www.gngoat.org.
  3. "Great Northern Empire - Then and Now". www.greatnorthernempire.net.
  • Keyes, Norman C., Jr.; Middleton, Kenneth R. (Autumn 1980). "The Great Northern Railway Company: All-Time Locomotive Roster, 1861–1970". Railroad History. Boston, Mass.: Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. 143: 114. ISSN 0090-7847. JSTOR 43523930.
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