Norfolk and Western J class (1941)

Norfolk and Western J class (1941)
Norfolk and Western No. 600, the first of the class
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer H.W. Reynolds G.P. McGavock C.H. Faris Franklin C. Noel Builder Roanoke Shops Build date 1941–1950 Total produced 14
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-4  • UIC 2′D2′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 36 in (914 mm) Driver dia. 70 in (1,778 mm) Trailing dia. 42 in (1,067 mm) Length 109 ft 2 in (33.27 m) Width 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) Height 16 ft 0 in (4.88 m) Axle load 72,000 lb (32,658.7 kilograms; 32.7 tonnes) for drivers Adhesive weight 288,000 lb (130.6 tonnes) Loco weight 494,000 lb (224.1 tonnes) Tender weight 378,600 lb (171.7 tonnes) Total weight 872,600 lb (395.8 tonnes) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 35 short tons (70,000 lb), originally 26 short tons (52,000 lb) (Nos. 600-610) Water cap. 20,000 US gal (76,000 L; 17,000 imp gal), originally 22,000 US gal (83,000 L; 18,000 imp gal) (Nos. 600-610) Fuel consumption 6.5 short tons (5.9 t) of coal per hour 11,975 US gal (45,330 L; 9,971 imp gal) of water per hour Firebox: ​  • Grate area 107.7 sq ft (10.01 m2) Boiler 92 in (2,337 mm) (front) 102 in (2,591 mm) (back) Boiler pressure 300 psi (2.07 MPa), originally 275 psi (1.90 MPa) (Nos. 600-610) Feedwater heater Worthington Type 6-SA 12,000 gal/hr capacity Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 578 sq ft (53.7 m2)  • Tubes 2.25 in (57 mm)  • Flues 3.5 in (89 mm)  • Tubes and flues 4,693 sq ft (436.0 m2)  • Total surface 5,271 sq ft (489.7 m2) Superheater: ​  • Type Elesco Type E  • Heating area 2,177 sq ft (202.2 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 27 in × 32 in (686 mm × 813 mm) Valve gear Baker Valve type Piston valves 14-inch (356 mm), 8.5-inch (216 mm) travel
Performance figures Power output 5,100 hp (3,800 kW) @ tender drawbar Tractive effort 84,981 lbf (378.01 kN) Factor of adh. 3.6
Career Operators Norfolk and Western Railway Class J (3rd) Number in class 14 Numbers 600–613 Retired 1958–1959 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped
References:[1][2]

The Norfolk and Western J class was a class of 14 4-8-4 "Northern" streamlined steam locomotives built by the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) at its Roanoke Shops in Roanoke, Virginia, between 1941 and 1950. The most powerful 4-8-4 locomotives ever produced, the J class were part of the N&W's "Big Three" (along with the class A and Y6 freight locomotives) that represented the pinnacle of steam technology.

They were built to pull N&W's named passenger trains on the N&W main line between Norfolk, Virginia, and Cincinnati, Ohio; they also ferried the Southern Railway's passenger trains between Monroe and Bristol, Virginia, until these trains were taken over by diesel locomotives in the summer of 1958. The class J locomotives were subsequently reassigned to haul local freight trains; all but one were retired and scrapped by the end of October 1959.

The lone exception was No. 611, which was donated to the Virginia Museum of Transportation (VMT) in 1962. It has been restored twice: once as part of the Norfolk Southern Railway's steam program in 1982, and again as part of the VMT's Fire up 611! campaign in 2015.