Valve gear question

Warren · **Posted:** Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:11 pm

Les Beckman wrote:

johnacraft wrote:

I am curious as to the number in the lower right hand corner of the cab. It almost looks like a date although I can't quite make it out. Maybe 6-5-31, but I can't fathom what that could mean. Perhaps the 31 stands for approximately 31,000# of Tractive Effort. But if so, what are the other two numbers? And if the 31 ISN'T T.E., what the heck is it? Any one able to advise?

Les

Les,
It says 6-S-31 which was the CNJ reclassification from the original B-3B class.
It indicates a 0-6-0 (6) switch engine (S) at 31000 lbs T.E. (31). A CNJ Pacific such as the 832 used on The Blue Comet would be a P-47 (Pacific-47,000 lbs T.E.) and so on through the ranks.