Baltimore and Ohio 4500

Baltimore and Ohio 4500 is a 2-8-2 "USRA Light Mikado" steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in July 1918 for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) as a member of the Q-3 class.

Baltimore and Ohio 4500
B&O 4500 as it was built in 1918
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderBaldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number49153
Build dateJuly 4, 1918
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte2-8-2
  UIC1′D2′ h1
Gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.33 in (838 mm)
Driver dia.63 in (1,600 mm)
Trailing dia.43 in (1,092 mm)
WheelbaseLoco & tender: 41.98 ft (12.80 m)
Axle load55,200 lb (25,000 kilograms; 25.0 metric tons)
Adhesive weight220,000 lb (100,000 kilograms; 100 metric tons)
Loco weight292,000 lb (132,000 kilograms; 132 metric tons)
Tender weight185,400 lb (84,100 kilograms; 84.1 metric tons)
Total weight477,400 lb (216,500 kilograms; 216.5 metric tons)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity16 t (16 long tons; 18 short tons)
Water cap10,000 US gal (38,000 l; 8,300 imp gal)
Firebox:
  Firegrate area
66.70 sq ft (6.197 m2)
Boiler pressure200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa)
Heating surface:
  Firebox
286 sq ft (26.6 m2)
Superheater:
  Heating area882 sq ft (81.9 m2)
CylindersTwo
Cylinder size26 in × 30 in (660 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gearWalschaert
Performance figures
Tractive effort53,800 lbf (239.31 kN)
Factor of adh.4.08
Career
OperatorsBaltimore and Ohio
ClassQ-3
Number in class1st of 100
NumbersB&O 4500
B&O 300 (from 1957-1964)
RetiredAugust 1957
DispositionOn display at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland

The locomotive hauled freight for the B&O until retirement in August 1957 and was donated for display at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the sole surviving Baltimore and Ohio Mikado type steam locomotive.

History

The locomotive was the very first USRA locomotive built and it was constructed in. It was also finished on July 4th, 1918 and it was decked out with American Flags for the occasion. While is remained as built mechanically, it received some of B&O's distinctive cosmetic changes throughout its service life, but the locomotive retains the original tender and trailing truck. During its service life, the locomotive was in freight service primarily on the Ohio and St. Louis divisions of the railroad.[1] In 1957, the locomotive was renumbered 300 to make room for four-digit diesel locomotives.[2]

Preservation

In August 1957, 4500, still numbered 300, was retired and in 1964, it was put on display at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland and was renumbered back to 4500, its original number. In 1990, the locomotive was designated as a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark.[3][4] Today, it still resides there on display.

References

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