- PRR K5
The
Pennsylvania Railroad 's class K5 was an experimental4-6-2 "Pacific" type, built in1929 to see if a larger Pacific than the standard K4s was worthwhile. Two prototypes were built, #5698 at the PRR's ownAltoona Works , and #5699 by theBaldwin Locomotive Works . Although classified identically, the two locomotives differed in many aspects, as detailed below. They were both fitted with a much fatter boiler than the K4s, but dimensionally similar to those of the I1s2-10-0 "Decapods". Most other dimensions were enlarged over the K4s as well; the exceptions being the 70 ft² (6.5 m²)grate area and the 80 in (2.03 m) drivers.In comparison:
The K5's factor of adhesion was much worse than the K4s'. This is because the K5 was more powerful than the K4s but with little more weight on drivers (and thus adhesion). Factors of adhesion below 4 are often considered undesirable for steam locomotives, and the K5 design did prove to be rather less sure-footed because of it. For this reason,
4-8-2 "Mountain" and4-8-4 "Northern" designs with more drivers (and thus a greater allowable weight on drivers within the same axle load limit) were generally considered preferable for locomotives as powerful as the K5.Both K5 locomotives were given a 130-P-75 tender carrying 12,475
US gallon s (47,223 l) of water and 22 tons (20,000 kg) of coal. Surprisingly for such large locomotives built at such a late date, both were equipped for hand firing. Both were fitted with Worthington-patternfeedwater heater s, power reverse, unflanged main drivers, and both used nickel steel boiler shells. As built, both carried their bell on the smokebox front, hung below the headlight; this arrangement was common on other roads but at the time unique on the PRR.Altoona-built #5698
K5 #5698 was built at the PRR's
Juniata Works (Juniata 4205 / 1929) in 1929, but having a works plateAltoona Works 4205 / 1929. This according to late Mr Ivan W. Saunders, Pittsburgh, Pa. A one-piece cast steel locomotive bed was used; this produced thelocomotive frame , cylinders, andsmokebox saddle as one giant steel casting. This casting was produced by Commonwealth Steel'sGranite City, Illinois plant. This cast locomotive bed design was a successful trial, and was repeated on1930 's order for 100 M1a class4-8-2 "Mountains", as was the Worthington feedwater heater with mixing chamber behind the stack.K5 #5698 used conventional
Walschaerts valve gear andpiston valve s, and developed a starting tractive effort of 54,675 lbf (243.21 kN).Baldwin-built #5699
In contrast, Baldwin-built #5699 (
Baldwin 60660 / 1928) used a conventional, fabricatedlocomotive frame and separate cylinder plus half-saddle castings. The innovation trialled on #5699 was its use ofCaprotti valve gear , apoppet valve gear invented inItaly . The greater efficiencies of this gear gave the locomotive a higher tractive effort of 58,092 lbf (258.41 kN).Although efficient, the Caprotti gear proved less reliable than the regular Walschaerts valve gear and requiring more frequent, more skilled maintenance, and in
1937 it was replaced by Walschaerts gear driving regular piston valves, making the two locomotives (except for frames) functionally identical.Service life
The two locomotives were originally assigned to haul Philadelphia to Pittsburgh through trains. After the
electrification reached Harrisburg, they were reassigned to the twisting Harrisburg–Baltimore route. Finally, they were reassigned to Pittsburgh–Crestline trains.Both were updated after World War 2 with the standard front-end "beauty treatment" given to most K4s locomotives; a sheet-steel drop coupler pilot, higher-mounted headlight, and turbo-generator mounted on the smokebox front for easier access. They lost their unique bell placement at this time, making them look more like class K4s.
In conclusion
Like many experimental locomotives, the K5 was only a qualified success. Both locomotives performed well enough to be kept in service, but they did not perform so outstandingly as to persuade the PRR to build more. They proved that building a larger Pacific than the K4s was not worthwhile; the reduced factor of adhesion limited the locomotives' ability to put their greater power to full use. A larger locomotive with eight driving wheels was needed.
This route was eventually taken, although in striking form with the T1
4-4-4-4 duplex locomotive , but theGreat Depression and the huge cost of electrification meant that PRR steam locomotive development effectively ceased after the K5 and M1a. The electrical department became the thrust of PRR locomotive policy, and the displaced steam locomotives from electrified territory gave the PRR a surplus of locomotives, giving little incentive to develop more.The cast steel locomotive bed and Worthington feedwater heater both proved themselves, and they became a feature of most PRR steam locomotives built after the K5 and indeed those on many other railroads.
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