Baltimore and Ohio class N-1

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B&O #5600 George H. Emerson

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad #5600 George H. Emerson

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	B&O Mount Clare Shops
Build date	May 1937
Total produced	1

Specifications
Configuration:
• Whyte	4-4-4-4
• UIC	2′BB2′
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.	36 in (914 mm)
Driver dia.	76 in (1,930 mm)
Trailing dia.	42 in (1,067 mm)
Minimum curve	13° or 441.68 ft (134.62 m) normal, 18° or 319.62 ft (97.42 m) slow
Length	117 ft 0+1⁄4 in (35.67 m)
Adhesive weight	238,000 lb (108,000 kilograms; 108 metric tons)
Loco weight	386,500 lb (175,300 kilograms; 175.3 metric tons)
Tender weight	350,000 lb (160,000 kilograms; 160 metric tons)
Total weight	736,500 lb (334,100 kilograms; 334.1 metric tons)
Tender type	Vanderbilt with two 3-axle trucks
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	46,000 lb (21,000 kilograms; 21 metric tons)
Water cap.	22,000 US gal (83,000 L; 18,000 imp gal)
Firebox:
• Grate area	80.5 sq ft (7.48 m)
Boiler pressure	350 lbf/in (2.41 MPa)
Heating surface:
• Firebox	677 sq ft (62.9 m)
• Tubes and flues	4,220 sq ft (392 m)
• Total surface	4,897 sq ft (454.9 m)
Superheater:
• Type	B&O
• Heating area	1,312 sq ft (121.9 m)
Cylinders	Four, duplex
Cylinder size	18 in × 26.5 in (457 mm × 673 mm)
Valve gear	Walschaerts

Performance figures
Power output	3,936 hp (2,935 kW) at cylinders
Tractive effort	65,000 lbf (289.1 kN)
Factor of adh.	3.66

Career
Operators	Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Class	N-1
Numbers	5600
Official name	George H. Emerson
Retired	1943
Scrapped	October 1950

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's sole Class N-1 steam locomotive, #5600 (named "George H. Emerson"), was the first duplex locomotive and the first 4-4-4-4 locomotive ever built. It was unique in the fact that it had a water tube firebox, which was much larger than a normal firebox. It was designed and built by the railroad's own shops in 1937.

Cylinders

The rear set of cylinders were placed beside the firebox. This allowed the locomotive's wheelbase to remain the same. The space beside the firebox was hot and dirty, which caused premature cylinder wear, and the placement of the cylinders limited the size of the firebox. These same problems occurred on the PRR Q1, which also placed the rear cylinders by the firebox. It was built by the B&O's own Mount Clare Shops in 1937; however, it had problems with the sizes of the cylinders facing the other direction.

Retirement

In 1943, No. 5600 was retired from service. The locomotive was then cut up for scrap in 1950.

Gallery

B & O 5600 at the 1939 New York World's Fair
Detail, showing the rearward cylinders and gear

References

Reed, Brian (June 1972). Pennsylvania Duplexii. Loco Profile 24. Windsor, Berkshire: Profile Publications Limited. pp. 266–267.

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