Chesapeake and Ohio Class L-2 and L-2a

Infobox Locomotive
name = C&O L-2a
powertype = Steam

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caption = C&O L-2 #302 at Hinton, West Virginia, July 10, 1953.
builder = Baldwin Locomotive Works
builddate = 1941
cylindercount = 2
cylindersize = 25 in bore × 30 in stroke (635 mm × 762 mm)
driversize = 78 in (1.98 m)
boilerpressure = 255 psi (1.76 MPa)
totalsurface = 4,233 ft² (393 m²)
superheaterarea = 1,810 ft² (168 m²)
firearea = 90 ft² (8.4 m²)
fuelc

waterc

locotenderweight = 893,000 lb (381 metric tons)
weightondrivers = 219,500 lb (100 metric tons)
length = 108 ft 0 in (32.92 m)
numinclass = 8
roadnumber = 300–307
retiredate = 1953
disposition = all scrappedInfobox Locomotive
name = C&O L-2a
powertype = Steam

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caption = C&O L-2a #310 at Charleston, West Virginia, June 26, 1951.
builder = Baldwin Locomotive Works
builddate = 1947
numinclass = 5
roadnumber = 310–314

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's Class L-2 comprised eight coal-fired 4-6-4 "Hudson" type steam locomotives numbered #300–307 and built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1941. They had roller bearings on all axles, and the first-built, #300, had roller bearings on its side and main rods too. #300 also bore "Elephant ear" smoke deflectors from 1948.

In 1947, the C&O ordered five additional and very similar locomotives, numbering them #310–314; these were Class L-2a and differed mostly in using Franklin RC poppet valves instead of the Baker valve gear of the L-2s. These were the last express passenger steam locomotives ordered by a United States railroad, and some of the most expensive at $353,346 each, 80% more than the cost of the 8 earlier L-2 locomotives.ref|cost

Both classes were among the largest 4-6-4s ever built. They were intended to work the C&O's top-flight express trains on level ground; the railroad purchased 4-8-4 "Greenbrier" types for mountain service.

By 1953, C&O passenger services were wholly dieselized, and there was no more work for these locomotives to do. Hudsons were very unsuited to freight work, with such a comparatively small proportion of their weight on the drivers. All were quickly scrapped.

Notes

# cite journal
title = The outstanding features and many lives of C&O 614
author = Huddleston, Eugene L.
journal = Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Magazine
year = 2002
month = Jan/Feb
url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3943/is_200201/ai_n9063588