Southern Pacific class MC-4

Infobox Locomotive
name=Southern Pacific class MC-4
powertype=Steam
railroad=Southern Pacific Railroad
gauge=4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm)
railroadclass=MC-4
whytetype=2-8-8-2
driversize=57 in diameter
hpcylindersize=26 in dia × 30 in stroke
lpcylindersize=40 in dia × 30 in stroke
weight=432,600 lb
weightondrivers=398,500 lb
boilerpressure=200 psi
tractiveeffort=85,040 lbf
roadnumber=4017 – 4028
builder=Baldwin Locomotive Works
serialnumber=36490-36493, 36524-36527, 36614-36616, 36634
builddate=April-May 1911
firstrundate=July 21 1911
retiredate=1947 – 1948
disposition=scrapped
whytetype=2-8-8-2

Southern Pacific Railroad's MC-4 class of steam locomotive was the second class ordered and built as cab forward locomotives. Southern Pacific (SP) found the MC-2 class as sufficient enough for a proof-of-concept for cab forward locomotives and sought to continue with now tested designs.

In service, SP found that the locomotives were a little too slow for the traffic needs. By 1930, all of the MC-4 class had been "simpled" to use uniform size cylinders and feedwater heaters were installed to address the issue. They were then reclassified as AC-2 locomotives. As rebuilt, the locomotives continued in service through the end of World War II.

References

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