| Nice original action shot of the of the unusual and problem plagued 1928 Lima built 2-8-4 Berkshire for the Boston and Maine. One unique feature was the "Cobra Hood" Coffin feedwater heater that wrapped as a collar around the smokebox. According to www.steamlocomotive.com "From the beginning, the B&M had problems with their Lima built "Berkshires". The problem was with the trailing four-wheel truck. Because of the large firebox and large ash pan the locomotive had to have an articulated frame. The back end of the firebox had to rest on a moving base and it was subject to buffeting and twisting, resulting in chronic leakage at the mud ring, side sheet stay bolts and the throat sheet, as it tried to wiggle from side to side to follow the motion of the trucks. Also, this arrangement would sometimes cause the rear wheels to derail while backing up." Eventually ten in the class were sold to SP and 7 were sold to ATSF in July of 1945. Specs - 63" drivers, 28"x30" cylinders, 240 psi,engine weight of 406,900 lb, tractive effort of 76,160 lb. |