Berkshire locomotive
Encyclopedia
The Berkshire locomotive came about because of the hope of the Lima Locomotive Works
, an established and well-known manufacturer of steam locomotives, to improve the USRA Mikado
design (2-8-2), which lacked sufficient speed and horsepower. Based initially from a New York Central Railroad H-7 Mikado
design, what Lima ultimately came up with was a locomotive that included a larger, 100 square feet (9.3 m²) firebox that necessitated the need for an extra trailing axle giving the locomotive (designated a Class A-1) a 2-8-4 wheel arrangement.
This new locomotive would get its name, Berkshire, again because of where it was first tested, the Berkshire Hills on the Boston & Albany Railroad in 1925. After very successful tests against a Class H-10 Mikado where the Class A-1 easily outperformed the Mikado (the Class A-1 left Selkirk Yard nearly 50 minutes after the Class H-10 and pulled a train that was over 600 tons heavier, yet arrived at North Adams Junction ten minutes ahead of the Mikado!), the B&A quickly ordered 45 Berkshires.
In all some nineteen different railroads would purchase the successful Berks with the Erie Railroad
owning the most, 105; in all over 600 of the locomotives were built from the three largest manufacturers, American Locomotive Company
, Lima and Baldwin Locomotive Works
. Of note regarding the Berkshire Locomotives was the 90 owned by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway who called them Kanawhas.
Specifications of the Nickel Plate Road (NKP) Berkshire Locomotives
Builder – Lima, Baldwin, and Alco (NKP Berkshires were built by Lima)Fuel - 22 tons
Cylinders(2) - 25" x 34"
Water - 22,000 Gallons
Weight – 802,500 Pounds
Diameter of Drivers – 69 Inches
Steam Pressure - 245 PSI
Tractive Effort – 64,100 Pounds
Today, impressively two of these large steamers still operate; Nickel Plate Road (NKP) #765 and Pere Marquette #1225 (who has become quite famous in recent years as the Polar Express), with a third to be operational in the coming years, #765’s sister #763 owned by shortline, Ohio Central. Along with these operational Berkshire locomotives another of Pere Marquette Railway
’s survive and four other of the Nickel Plate’s. Additionally twelve of the C&O’s Kanawhas also survive.
Lima Locomotive Works
Lima Locomotive Works was an American firm that manufactured railroad locomotives from the 1870s through the 1950s. The company took the most distinctive part of its name from its main shops location in Lima, Ohio. The shops were located between the Baltimore & Ohio's Cincinnati-Toledo main line...
, an established and well-known manufacturer of steam locomotives, to improve the USRA Mikado
USRA Heavy Mikado
The USRA Heavy Mikado was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. These locomotives were of 2-8-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or 1′D1′...
design (2-8-2), which lacked sufficient speed and horsepower. Based initially from a New York Central Railroad H-7 Mikado
USRA Heavy Mikado
The USRA Heavy Mikado was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. These locomotives were of 2-8-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or 1′D1′...
design, what Lima ultimately came up with was a locomotive that included a larger, 100 square feet (9.3 m²) firebox that necessitated the need for an extra trailing axle giving the locomotive (designated a Class A-1) a 2-8-4 wheel arrangement.
This new locomotive would get its name, Berkshire, again because of where it was first tested, the Berkshire Hills on the Boston & Albany Railroad in 1925. After very successful tests against a Class H-10 Mikado where the Class A-1 easily outperformed the Mikado (the Class A-1 left Selkirk Yard nearly 50 minutes after the Class H-10 and pulled a train that was over 600 tons heavier, yet arrived at North Adams Junction ten minutes ahead of the Mikado!), the B&A quickly ordered 45 Berkshires.
In all some nineteen different railroads would purchase the successful Berks with the Erie Railroad
Erie Railroad
The Erie Railroad was a railroad that operated in New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, originally connecting New York City with Lake Erie...
owning the most, 105; in all over 600 of the locomotives were built from the three largest manufacturers, American Locomotive Company
American Locomotive Company
The American Locomotive Company, often shortened to ALCO or Alco , was a builder of railroad locomotives in the United States.-Early history:...
, Lima and Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
. Of note regarding the Berkshire Locomotives was the 90 owned by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway who called them Kanawhas.
Specifications of the Nickel Plate Road (NKP) Berkshire Locomotives
Builder – Lima, Baldwin, and Alco (NKP Berkshires were built by Lima)Fuel - 22 tons
Cylinders(2) - 25" x 34"
Water - 22,000 Gallons
Weight – 802,500 Pounds
Diameter of Drivers – 69 Inches
Steam Pressure - 245 PSI
Tractive Effort – 64,100 Pounds
Today, impressively two of these large steamers still operate; Nickel Plate Road (NKP) #765 and Pere Marquette #1225 (who has become quite famous in recent years as the Polar Express), with a third to be operational in the coming years, #765’s sister #763 owned by shortline, Ohio Central. Along with these operational Berkshire locomotives another of Pere Marquette Railway
Pere Marquette Railway
The Pere Marquette Railway was a railroad that operated in the Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. The railroad had trackage in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and the Canadian province of Ontario. Its primary connections included Buffalo; Toledo; and Chicago.The company was...
’s survive and four other of the Nickel Plate’s. Additionally twelve of the C&O’s Kanawhas also survive.