Class K-5b 4920 at Lafayette IN on April 8, 1950. Built by Alco in 1926 as Michigan Central 8360, it was retired in June of 1952. Harry Zillmer Photo, M. D. McCarter collection.
That engine looks massive and powerful, much heavier than a "mere" Pacific. Interesting that it looks nothing like the K-11s and K-14s that ran on the Harlem Division, even though they also were erected by Alco around the same time. Great photo, thanks Roger.
That's a beautiful machine. Indeed, it looks massive and powerful. One look at that and you know this one means business. Thanks for sharing that, Roger.
A massive Pacific. Two were streamlined for the original "Mercury". As powerful as these were, as ridership increased, they were replaced by Hudsons. Wish we could get a Pacific like this in N scale.
I agree Mike. Unfortunately, Even though much of its massiveness comes from its accessories and appendages, I believe the basic shape is too unique for any supplier to consider. They're more confortable with the USRA and similar locomotives which had more general application.
That's what I like about it too. All that hardware hanging on to it makes it look even more impressive. Not to mention that it looks big by the proportions of the boiler to the cab, the size and shape of the tender, etc. It's big and it's gorgeous! And it has class.
Thanks for another classic, Roger. Man, there is a whole lotta Elesco feedwater heater plumbing on that smokebox! :tb-biggrin:
I'm puzzled by the structure around the back half of the firebox just in front of the cab. If it's part of the firebox, then what is it for?
Hank, if you are referring to the fairing just forward of the cab, that is all it is, Alco hid the plumbing for the steam turret and some its routing under that fairing. All of the Hudsons had them and other Alco products. :tb-biggrin:
Thanks Jim, it's just that I don't remember seeing fairings that were so pronounced before, especially on Ks. This one appears quite large. Initially it reminded me of the large anthracite burning fireboxes on the larger Reading locos.
Ok,we will start under the cab.The big pipe with the upsidedown funnel is to the booster. Follow it along and it comes out in the middle of the cylinder on top.That is how it gets its steam.There is another just like it on the engineer's side.The smaller pipe below the steam pipe is the water pump supply pipe from tender to the water pump which is located to the rear and above the cylinder.You can see the pipe coming from behind the air tank to the water pump.You can then follow it out of the front of the pump,and it gets lost in the maze, but it comes out around the boiler and goes onto the bottom of the feed water heater. Going thru the feedwater heater at the top and coming out in the large pipe. Following along the boiler and making a U turn ending at the boiler check valve. The single air pump in front was from the K-3r series 4800-4804 and these were the last 4-6-2 locomotives built for the B4/NYC in Feb. 1925.These locomotives were hot rods and had for one thing ,each had a different front end throttle, among other hopup things. Rich Stoving speaks of them running 115 mph in his articles. Did you notice all B4/NYC generators set on the side of the boilers not on top as other R.R. The K-3r 4800s had a T E of 41900 and K-5,T E of 47-48000. LEW
