| Fairly nice original photo of Kansas City Southern 2-8-0 Consolidation #495 built by Alco-Pittsburgh in July of 1906. Specs - serial #40173, class E-3, 55" drivers, 200 psi boiler pressure, 22x30" cylinders, 205,500 lb, tractive effort of 44,880 lb. Most of the class was upgraded by KCS shops with superheaters after tests proved a resounding success. The website www.steamlocomotive.com states - "In round trips over the same route, the #477 (superheated test loco) took 15% less time, burned 23.1% less coal per mile (still a hefty 151.25 lb /68.6 kg) and consumed 33.5% less water (down to 46.3 lb/21 kg or about 5.6 US gallons)." Photo by H. E. Valentine |