Baldwin Class 12-48 ¼ E

Baldwin 12-48 ¼ E
File:SOU 4501 with the Smoky Mountain Special near Paint Rock, NC on May 30, 1970.jpg
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer Baldwin Locomotive Works Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works ALCO-Richmond Lima Locomotive Works Model 12-48 ¼ E Build date 1911–1917
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 61.5–63 in (1.562–1.600 m) Loco weight 134.5–136 t (134,500–136,000 kg; 134,500,000–136,000,000 g) Tender weight 76.5–76.7 t (76,500–76,700 kg; 76,500,000–76,700,000 g) Total weight 211–212.7 t (211,000–212,700 kg; 211,000,000–212,700,000 g) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 12 t (12,000 kg; 12,000,000 g) Water cap. 8,000 US gal (6,700 imp gal) Boiler pressure 175–180 psi (1,210–1,240 kPa; 1.21–1.24 MPa) Cylinder size 27 in × 30 in (690 mm × 760 mm) Valve gear Southern or Walschaerts
Career Operators Southern Railway Mobile and Ohio Railroad Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad Wabash Railroad Company Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

The Baldwin Class 12-48 ¼ E was a class of 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotives that were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for several railroads all across the United States of America.

History

The Baldwin 12-48 ¼ E locomotives were constructed between 1911 and 1917, not only built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW), but were also built in a collaboration between the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) at their own Richmond, Virginia works, and the Lima Locomotive Works (LLW).

Two railroads, used this locomotive design. The Southern Railway (SOU) owned 182 of these locomotives and classified them as their Ms class.

The Mobile and Ohio Railroad (M&O) purchased 21 engines and they classified them as the class 400. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad (D&RG) purchased 13 similar locomotives in December 1912 which they classified at first as their 280 class, these later became their K-59 class when the D&RG merged with the Rio Grande Western Railroad (RGW) to become the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (D&RGW).

The Wabash Railroad Company (WAB) also used some 2-8-2s similar to these and classified them as their K-1s.

Preservation

Only one locomotive was preserved:

• Southern 4501, built in October 1911 is currently operational at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum based in Chattanooga, Tennessee.