Soo Line B-4 class
Soo Line B-4 class|
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| Specifications |
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| Configuration |
0-6-0 |
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| UIC class |
C h2 |
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| Gauge |
4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
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| Driver dia. |
51 in (1,295 mm) |
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| Wheelbase |
Loco: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) |
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| Length |
58 ft 10 3⁄8 in (17.94 m) |
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| Width |
10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) |
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| Height |
15 ft 3 1⁄2 in (4.66 m) |
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| Axle load |
51,500 lb (23.4 tonnes) |
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| Loco weight |
151,000 lb (68.5 tonnes) |
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| Tender weight |
102,900 lb (46.7 tonnes) |
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| Fuel type |
Coal |
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| Fuel capacity |
16,000 lb (7.3 tonnes) |
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| Water cap |
5,000 US gal (19,000 l; 4,200 imp gal) |
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| Boiler pressure |
180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa) |
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| Cylinders |
Two, outside |
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| Cylinder size |
20 in × 26 in (508 mm × 660 mm) |
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| Valve gear |
Walschaerts |
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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] - #363 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
- Gjevre, John A. (1990) [1973]. Saga of the Soo, West from Shoreham (Second ed.). Moorhead, Minnesota: Gjevre Books. p. 176.