Great Northern O-1

The Great Northern O-1 Class was a class of 145 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works between 1911-1919 and used by the Great Northern Railway until the late 1950s.

Great Northern O-1 class
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Build date August 1911-February 1919 Total produced 145
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2  • UIC 1′D2′ h1 Gauge 4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 33 in (838 mm) Driver dia. 63 in (1,600 mm) Trailing dia. 42 in (1,067 mm) Wheelbase 91.17 ft (27,789 mm) Axle load Batch 1: 55,000 lb (25,000 kilograms; 25 metric tons), Batch 2: 59,000 lb (27,000 kilograms; 27 metric tons), Batch 3: 57,250 lb (25,970 kilograms; 25.97 metric tons) Adhesive weight Batch 1: 220,000 lb (100,000 kilograms; 100 metric tons), Batch 2: 236,000 lb (107,000 kilograms; 107 metric tons), Batch 3: 229,000 lb (104,000 kilograms; 104 metric tons) Loco weight Batch 1: 280,000 lb (130,000 kilograms; 130 metric tons), Batch 2: 315,360 lb (143,040 kilograms; 143.04 metric tons), Batch 3: 306,500 lb (139,000 kilograms; 139.0 metric tons) Tender weight Batch 1: 154,100 lb (69,900 kilograms; 69.9 metric tons), Batch 2: 187,000 lb (85,000 kilograms; 85 metric tons), Batch 3: 154,100 lb (69,900 kilograms; 69.9 metric tons) Total weight Batch 1: 434,100 lb (196,900 kilograms; 196.9 metric tons), Batch 2: 502,360 lb (227,870 kilograms; 227.87 metric tons), Batch 3: 460,600 lb (208,900 kilograms; 208.9 metric tons) Fuel type Batch 1/3: Coal, Batch 2: Fuel oil Fuel capacity Batch 1/3: 13 short tons (11.8 t; 11.6 long tons) coal, Batch 2: 4,500 US gal (17,000 l; 3,700 imp gal) oil Water cap Batch 1/3: 8,000 US gal (30,000 l; 6,700 imp gal), Batch 2: 10,000 US gal (38,000 l; 8,300 imp gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 78.20 sq ft (7.265 m^2) Boiler pressure Batch 1: 170 lbf/in^2 (1.17 MPa), Batch 2/3:210 lbf/in^2 (1.45 MPa) Heating surface:  • Firebox 249 sq ft (23.1 m^2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 28 in × 32 in (711 mm × 813 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort Batch 1: 57,543 lbf (255.96 kN) Batch 2/3: 71,083 lbf (316.19 kN) Factor of adh. Batch 1: 3.82 Batch 2: 3.32 Batch 3: 3.22
Career Operators Great Northern Class O-1 Numbers 3000–3144 Retired 1948-1958 Preserved One (No. 3059) Disposition Great Northern 3059 on display in Williston, North Dakota, remainder scrapped

The O-1s, along with other O Class Mikados of the Great Northern, were used system wide to pull freight trains. As of today, only one O-1 has been preserved, No. 3059, from the second batch of O-1s. It was retired in December 1957 and is on display at the Williston depot in Williston, North Dakota.

History

All of the O-1s were equipped with the Belpaire firebox and were assigned to haul freight trains system wide. During their service life, some were temporarily equipped with boosters, which added between 11,000 and 12,200 lbs. of tractive effort. Between 1925–1944, 13 O-1s (Nos. 3023, 3024, 3026, 3028, 3029, 3039, 3043, 3064, 3099, 3108, 3121, 3122 and 3134) were sold to the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway.

Preservation

Only one O-1 has survived into preservation, No. 3059 of the second batch. It was built in February 1913 and retired in December 1957. On August 2, 1958, it was donated for display at the Williston, North Dakota Depot in Williston, North Dakota and currently resides there.[1] It is the sole surviving O-1 and the sole surviving Great Northern "Mikado" type steam locomotive.

References

1. http://www.greatnorthernempire.net/index2.htm?GNEGN_O1_Class.htm

• Keyes, Norman C., Jr.; Middleton, Kenneth R. (Autumn 1980). "The Great Northern Railway Company: All-Time Locomotive Roster, 1861–1970". Railroad History. Boston, Mass.: Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. 143: 100, 102. ISSN 0090-7847. JSTOR 43523930.