Steam & Excursion > Even Uglier 2--8-4 than former B&M Berks on the Santa Fe and SP?

I saw the recent thread on the berks acquired by the SP and Santa Fe from the B&M. I nominate an even uglier one. Alco built seven of these in 1948 for the P&LE, and reportedly they were the last domestic steam loco built by the builder. IIRC,  they ran their last miles on the Big Four. A Van Sweringen Road Berk, she ain't.

Photo from Steam Locomotive dot com.

Victor Baird



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/25 10:20 by wabash2800.

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wabash2800 Wrote:
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> ... I nominate an even uglier one. Alco built seven of these in 1948
> for the P&LE, and reportedly they were the last
> domestic steam loco built by the builder.

I have to disagree. I think it looks pretty damn good!

What are the 7 cylindrical objects attached near the lower firebox side sheets?

Jeff

... in the eyes of the beholder.... Some folks love GP30s, BL2s and CF7s too. 

Victor Baird


ts1457 Wrote:
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>
> I have to disagree. I think it looks pretty damn
> good!

I'm believe they were overfire jets. Wes will likely pipe in soon.

Victor Baird

CDTX Wrote:
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> What are the 7 cylindrical objects attached near
> the lower firebox side sheets?
>
> Jeff

CDTX Wrote:
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> What are the 7 cylindrical objects attached near
> the lower firebox side sheets?
>
> Jeff

Over-fire jets

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> ... in the eyes of the beholder.... Some folks
> love GP30s, BL2s and CF7s too. 
>
> Victor Baird

Even the ugliest steam locomotive looks pretty damn good to me.

If anyone has an example which they think is particular ugly, try to change my mind.

Here's my butt ugly candidate.
D&H 1400 "Horatio Allen"

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TS1457 is going to fall in love with that one. <G>

Victor Baird

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> TS1457 is going to fall in love with that one.
>
> Victor Baird

You're right!

It's interesting that D&H was trying to make improvements in the technology. Here is another one of its efforts:

Century of Progress, Chicago 1933-1934 -- Delaware &amp; Hudson 4-8-0 1403 &quot;L. F. Loree&quot; -- Presented by Richard Leonard's Rail Archive (railarchive.net)

wabash2800 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I saw the recent thread on the berks acquired by
> the SP and Santa Fe from the B&M. I nominate an
> even uglier one. Alco built seven of these in 1948
> for the P&LE, and reportedly they were the last
> domestic steam loco built by the builder. IIRC, 
> they ran their last miles on the Big Four. A Van
> Sweringen Road Berk, she ain't.
>
> Photo from Steam Locomotive dot com.
>
> Victor Baird

They had only 63" diameter drivers, thus were VERY slow speed, heavy haul locomotives.

Note the Lima builders plate on the tender of the P&LE berk.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/19/25 10:54 by train1275.

Ya know, there are operating steam locos out there. You don't have to be like a sailor that's been out to sea too long.... <G>

ts1457 Wrote:
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>
> Even the ugliest steam locomotive looks pretty
> damn good to me.
>
 

Lima did build tenders for steam locos built by other builders.

Victor Baird

train1275 Wrote:
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> Note the Lima builders plate on the tender of the
> P&LE berk.

wabash2800 Wrote:
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> Lima did build tenders for steam locos built by
> other builders.
>
> Victor Baird

Correct. Lima did build the tenders for that order. See photo of one of those tenders in Lima the history by Eric Hirsimaki, page 233 original edition.

The cab and spartan boiler along with the high-mounted headlight make the Berkshire look a bit like a Niagara without the big drivers. I think it looks pretty good. Weren't they painted olive green when new?

Tom

I'm glad not everyone has the same taste in women either--there would be a shortage of good looking ones. ;)

Victor Baird

Posted from Android

Not the greatest looking steamer, but northern Indiana people like Victor and I are awfully spoiled. When you get used to seeing perfection all the time, it's hard accept anything less :). 

Perfection

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UP3806 Wrote:
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> The cab and spartan boiler along with the
> high-mounted headlight make the Berkshire look a
> bit like a Niagara without the big drivers. I
> think it looks pretty good. Weren't they painted
> olive green when new?
>
> Tom

I was thinking the same thing. Might have looked better with Niagara-style smoke lifters, but they probably wouldn't be too effective a drag freight speeds. And yes, they were painted green.