QJ vs B&O Big Six

tomgears · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 6:49 am

I did my best to come up with a side by side comparision between the QJ and a B&O S-1. Here is what I have found. It is pasted from a spreadsheet and I can't make the columns work properly but I think it is understandable.

QJ S-1
Weight E&T 184.0 203.5 Tons
Length E&T 86.0 Feet
Driver Diameter 59.0 58.0 Inches
Cylinders 25x31 30x32 Inches
Coal Capacity 23.7 23.0 Tons
Water Capacity 11,351.0 15,800.0 Gallons
Boiler Pressure 217.0 220.0 PSI
Grate Area 73.1 88.0 Square Feet
Heating Surface 4427 5251 Square Feet
Superheater Area 1550 1512 Square Feet
Tractive Effort 61,600 84,300 Lbs

Warren · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 8:44 am

Aesthetically the Big Sixes were better looking with the off center bell on the smokebox door and the B&O Capitol leading the way.

Les Beckman · **Joined:** Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:25 pm **Posts:** 6482

Warren:

And I believe that some of the Big Sixes had their headlights relocated to the center of the smokebox door which, in my opinion at least, improved their looks even more. But either way, they were good looking engines. Too bad B&O didn't save one for Baltimore.

Les

johnacraft · **Joined:** Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:53 pm **Posts:** 660

Given that the beasts are headed to the Iowa Interstate, wouldn't this be a better comparison?

90 2-10-2 63in 30x32in 185psi 137t 174t 80sq.ft. 4600sq.ft. 1150sq.ft.
90A 2-10-2 63in 30x32in 200psi 140t 177t 80sq.ft. 4740sq.ft. 1150sq.ft.
90A 2-10-2 63in 30x32in 215psi 140t 177t 80sq.ft. 4740sq.ft. 1150sq.ft.

JAC

Benjamin True · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:01 am

Tunnel clearnce must really stink with that stack!
but then again how many tunnels are there in Iowa?

Dave Stephenson · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 10:12 am

Tom,

The 58" driver diameter applied only to the B&O Class S (6000-6030). The S-1's and S-1a's had 64" drivers. Other than that, the specs are OK.

Warren · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 4:53 pm

All the headlight placement ,driver diameter, grate area, cylinder size,tractive effort talk, blah,blah,blah. How much would you give to see a pair of 2-10-2's(QJ's or otherwise) on the head end (or pushing in helper service) on the CSX Keystone Division pulling or shoving freight over Sandpatch? Huh? Huh?

tomgears · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 5:14 pm

Very good point. That is why I made such an effort to go to China and see it all first hand. Once it's gone, it's gone. Unless you have enough money to buy the railroad and locmotives you will never get to ride in the cab of a doubleheaded freight pulled by 2-10-2's. There is still steam to be had in China, although not on the mainline.

Warren · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 5:29 pm

Riding the 2-10-2's in China had to be the schnizle Tom. While we could not make it to China for the mainline action with all the various engines, we did manage to make a few mainline trips in the UK behind the GWR 4-6-0's and we had a great time. Wish we could have went to China ,but there was nothing wrong with riding the rails at 60 mph behind steam power in the West Country either.

johnacraft · **Joined:** Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:53 pm **Posts:** 660

Warren wrote:

How much would you give to see a pair of 2-10-2's(QJ's or otherwise) on the head end (or pushing in helper service) on the CSX Keystone Division pulling or shoving freight over Sandpatch? Huh? Huh?

Ahem: Warren, please quit snooping around on my hard drive.

;)

JAC

John Bohon · **Joined:** Sun Aug 29, 2004 1:04 pm **Posts:** 625

Count me amoung those who consider the B&O 2-10-2s the best looking of the breed. How much would I give to see a pair of anybodys 2-10-2s doubleheaded on freight? Quite a lot to say the least. I think the choice of the B&O 2-10-2 is an interesting choice for this comparison. The only railroad I can think of that could truely put one of the QJ class engines to good use is the Western Maryland Scenic climbing the WM version of Sandpatch and the short 3% grade of the C&P. I would certainly pay to see the show.

John Bohon

tomgears · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:08 pm

There was just no other choice for the comparison. What other railroad had a 2-10-2 that was 1/2 as pretty as those on the B&O? I better take cover here.... hehehe... But all in all the steam scene in China is amazing. I grew up in the 70's and 80's reading old magazines with photos showing steam still running in these far away places and never thought I would make it to see real working steam and now I have done 3 trips to China. Not only did I find the steam amazing, I fell in love with China.

whodom · **Posted:** Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:20 pm

Well, if you're looking for a close match, the closest thing I've been able to find to QJ is a USRA light 2-10-2. IIRC, the Southern Ss-1's were the only production examples of those:

QJ Ss-1
Driver Diameter 59.0 57 Inches
Cylinders 25x31 27x32 Inches
Boiler Pressure 217.0 200 PSI
Grate Area 73.1 76 Square Feet
Heating Surface 4427 4660 Square Feet
Superheater Area 1550 1085 Square Feet
Tractive Effort 61,600 69,600 Lbs

The Ss-1's were used in passenger service on Saluda grade, and for that matter, Saluda grade is sitting unused last time I checked. Maybe Mr. Posner will buy that too!

Txhighballer · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 10:49 am **Posts:** 773

Tom,IMHO, the Southern Pacific F-1 class is mighty handsome,as well as the ATSF 3800's. Either one of them would drag a QJ off and leave it someplace. But,would I love to see a couple of QJ's hauling freight? you bet!