This is one of the largest class of Consolidation type
(2-8-0) locomotives rostered by the Great Northern, one hundred and fourteen of which (#1140-#1253) were supplied by Baldwin, Brooks and Rogers between 1901 and 1905. The F-8 came in a variety of configurations, cross compound, simple, superheated and others with a wide firebox. Some simple models were later superheated.
One of the first order of fifty (#1140-#1199), #1147 was delivered in 1902 from Rogers Locomotive Works in Paterson, NJ, later part of Alco. As built, the engine weighed 192,000 lbs, 172,000 lbs on its 58” drivers, had 20” x 30” cylinders, a 53.5 sq ft grate, 212 sq ft firebox with 30 sq ft of arch tubes and a total heating surface of 2,712 sq ft. Converted from a coal burner to oil in 1913, it operated at a boiler pressure of 210 psi, delivering 41,542 lbs tractive effort.
The locomotive is 69’ 8½” long from the front coupler to the rear tender coupler, with a total wheelbase (including tender) of 60’ ¾”, an engine wheelbase of 24’ 3” and a driver wheelbase of 16’. The Class H-5 tender weighs 65,000 lbs empty and has a capacity of 4,500 gallons of oil and 8,000 gallons of water.
#1147 moved west in 1916 where it was assigned to the Leavenworth, WA, area and, later, moved to Wenatchee, WA.
It was retired in 1956, donated to the City of Wenatchee and went on display in Mission Street Park, where it has remained ever since.
After 1908, a number of F-8 s were superheated, including #1147, which also received larger
23½” x 30” cylinders soon after.
The rebuild increased the weight to 207,680 lbs, 195,000 lbs on the drivers. The grate area
increased to 59 sq ft and the firebox dropped to 195 sq ft. The boiler pressure also dropped to 180 psi. With 448 sq ft superheating, the total heating surface rose to 2,869 sq ft and the overall result was an increase of 8% in tractive effort to 45,060 lbs. Interestingly, the Stephenson valve gear was retained.
Related Links:
Great Northern Railway Historical Society
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Steam Locomotives of the Great Northern Railway by Kenneth R. Middleton and Norman F. Priebe was published by the Great Northern Historical Society in 2010 (click on the cover to search for this book on Bookfinder.com).
