Pennsylvania Railroad K29 class explained

K29s class
Powertype:Steam
Builder:Alco-Schenectady
Builddate:1911
Totalproduction:1
Whytetype:4-6-2
Gauge:[1]
Driverdiameter:80inches[2]
Engine Total:36feet
Locoweight:3175500NaN0
Tenderweight:1757000NaN0
Locotenderweight:4927000NaN0
Tendertype:Class 80-P-83
Fueltype:coal
Fuelcap:14 tons
Watercap:8280impgal
Fireboxtype:Radial stay
Firearea:54square feet
Totalsurface:46250NaN0
Fireboxarea:253square feet
Valvegear:Walschaerts
Tractiveeffort:433750NaN0
Operator:Pennsylvania Railroad
Operatorclass:K29s
Numinclass:1
Fleetnumbers:3395
Locale:PRR Pittsburgh Division, Pennsylvania, United States
Retiredate:1929
Disposition:Scrapped in 1929

The Pennsylvania Railroad's class K29s comprised a single experimental 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive. Constructed by Alco-Schenectady, it was given road number 3395. Although only one demonstrator was constructed, the K29s would become the basis for the highly successful K4s Pacifics and L1s Mikados. The lone example spent most of its life on the PRR's Pittsburgh division main line and was retired around 1929.

History

The sole K29s, PRR 3395, was constructed by the American Locomotive Company's Schenectady works in 1911 as a demonstrator engine for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The success of the single experimental K29s lead to the development of the equally successful K4s class Pacific and L1s class Mikado locomotives. Despite its success, the K29s was one of only a handful of locomotives constructed by Alco Schenectady as the PRR preferred its own Altoona Works as well the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia for large scale locomotive production. The sole K29s spent its entire operating life on the PRR's Pittsburg Division main line pulling limited passenger trains and being used as a helper engine. Rumors circulated stating the K29s was able to haul 13 full sized passenger cars unassisted on an uphill grade between Gallitzin, Pennsylvania and Altoona, Pennsylvania. By 1929 however, the K29s was stricken from the PRR's locomotive roster.

Specifications

The K29s had six driving wheels measuring 80inch in diameter each and a 36inchesft5inchesin (ftin) total wheelbase. The total weight including engine and tender was 492700lbs, while the engine alone weighed 317550lbs. The K29s used the Walschaerts valve gear, with 27x cylinders. The tractive effort was 43375lbf. It also had a total firebox heating surface of 4625square feet and a fire grate of 66.1square feet. It was paired with a Class 80-P-83 tender that could carry of water and 14 tons of soft coal. The K29s had an unusually massive boiler for its time, measuring between and in diameter and in length from firebox to smokebox door. Most of the basic specifications can also be found on the succeeding K4s Pacifics, which was directly developed from the K29s.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Locomotive Dictionary: Definitions and Illustrations of American Locomotives, Their Parts and Equipment, Together with Typical Illustrations of Machine Tools and Devices Used in Their Maintenance and Repair . Wright . Roydon Vincent . Swift . Porter La Forrest . 1912 . Simmons-Boardman Publishing Company . en.
  2. Book: Test Department, Pennsylvania Railroad . Locomotive Testing Plant at Altoona, Pa: Bulletins . 1915 . Altoona, Pennsylvania . 5 . en.