Maine Central class W
Maine Central No. 519
Type and origin Reference:[1] Power type Steam Builder ALCO Build date 1910–1914 Total produced 28
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-0  • UIC 1'D Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 33 in (838 mm) Driver dia. 63 in (1,600 mm) Wheelbase 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m) Length 71 ft 4 in (21.74 m) including tender Height 14 ft 8+1⁄4 in (4.48 m) Loco weight 198,000 lb (89.8 tonnes) Total weight 338,000 lb (153.3 tonnes) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 12 t Water cap. 7,000 US gal (26 m3) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 50.2 sq ft (4.66 m2) Boiler pressure 185 lbf/in2 (13.0 kg/cm2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 23 in × 28 in (584 mm × 711 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Tractive effort 37,000 lbf (164.6 kN)
Career Retired 1954 Preserved 2 (Remainder Scrapped) Disposition No. 501, under restoration

Maine Central Railroad Class W locomotives were intended for heavy freight service. They were of 2-8-0 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or "1'D" in UIC classification. They replaced earlier class O 4-6-0 locomotives beginning in 1910. They were in turn replaced by class S 2-8-2 locomotives for the heaviest freight service beginning in 1914, but remained in use on lighter freight trains until replaced by diesel locomotives after World War II.^[1]

Sub-classes

All were built in American Locomotive Company's plant at Schenectady, New York. The first nine built in 1910 (builders numbers 47732-47736 & 49207-49210) were 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg) lighter than the infobox figure. Sub-class W-1 consisted of seven locomotives added in 1912 (builders numbers 50933-50939) and eight more (builders numbers 52989-52996) delivered in 1913. The last four designated sub-class W-2 (builders numbers 54564-54567) were delivered in 1914 and were 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg) heavier than the infobox figure.^[1]

Preservation

Class W locomotives were numbered from 501 to 528 as delivered. Numbers 501 and 519 were officially property of the European and North American Railway (E&NA) as a condition of the lease of that company by the Maine Central Railroad. They therefore avoided scrapping until Maine Central purchased E&NA to remove the lease obligation in 1955. Two locomotives survived; No. 501 is currently under restoration to operating condition at the Conway Scenic Railroad and No. 519 was on display outside at the Steamtown National Historic Site, exposed to the elements.^[2][3]

Replacement

When the Maine Central began purchasing diesel locomotives, road switchers were numbered in the 500 series previously reserved for the W class.^[4] ALCO RS-2s and ALCO RS-3s were numbered 551 through 557, and EMD GP7s were numbered 561 through 569 and 571 through 581.^[5]