CN U-1-a and U-1-b

Canadian National U-1-a and U-1-b

CN U-1-a locomotive 6015; On public display at Jasper, Alberta, since July 1972
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Canadian Locomotive Company
Build date 1923–1924
Total produced 37
Specifications
Configuration 4-8-2
UIC class 2′D1′ h2
Gauge 4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia 34 14 in (0.870 m)
Driver diameter 73 in (1.854 m)
Trailing dia 43 in (1.092 m)
Minimum curve 16°
Wheelbase Loco: 41 ft 9 in (12.73 m)
Length 90 ft 4 14 in (27.54 m)
Width 10 ft 9 58 in (3.29 m)
Adhesive weight 233,790–235,390 lb (106.0–106.8 tonnes)
Loco weight 355,570–355,570 lb (161.3–161.3 tonnes)
Loco & tender weight 602,600–603,870 lb (273.3–273.9 tonnes)
Fuel type Coal or Oil
Fuel capacity Coal: 17–20 long tons (20–20 t)
Oil: 4,000–5,000 imp gal (18,200–22,700 l; 4,800–6,000 US gal)
Water cap 9,500–10,000 imp gal (43,200–45,500 l; 11,400–12,000 US gal)
Firebox:
  Firegrate area
66.7 sq ft (6.20 m2)
Boiler pressure 210 lbf/in2 (1.45 MPa)
Heating surface 4,049 sq ft (376.2 m2)
  Tubes and flues 3,730 sq ft (347 m2)
  Firebox 319 sq ft (29.6 m2)
Superheater Schmidt
  Heating area 810–1,087 sq ft (75.3–101.0 m2)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 26 in × 30 in (0.66 m × 0.76 m)
Valve gear Walschaerts
Train heating Steam heat
Loco brake Independent air
Train brakes Automatic air
Performance figures
Tractive effort 49,590 lbf (220.59 kN)
Factor of adh 4.71 – 4.74
Career
Operators Canadian National Railways
Power class 50%
Numbers 6000–6036
Retired 1951–1962
References for above:[1]

The CN U-1-a and U-1-b class locomotives were two subclasses of thirty-seven 4-8-2 Mountain-type steam locomotives built for the Canadian National Railways between 1923 and 1924. They were retired between 1951 and 1962.

Construction history

Table of Orders and numbers
Year Subclass Quantity Manufacturer Serial nos. CN Nos. Notes
1923 U-1-a 16 Canadian Locomotive Company 1696–1711 6000–6015
1924 U-1-b 21 Canadian Locomotive Company 1744–1758, 1764–1769 6016–6036

The locomotives were equipped with steam heating and air signal lines for working passenger trains. They were coal fired, although some U-1-a locomotives were later converted to oil firing.

Retirement

The first to be retired was 6004, which was severely damaged a head-on collision with S-2-a 3538 at Canoe River, British Columbia, in November 1950. It was scrapped in June 1951 (as was the 3538). There was a gap of four years before the next U-1-a or U-1-b went: two were scrapped in 1955, four in 1957, six in 1958, six in 1959, eight in 1960, seven in 1961, and the last two, 6000 and 6001 in 1962.[2]

In art

U-1-a 6004 was the subject of a 1924 publicity poster by C. Norwich. It depicts the locomotive speeding along in the foreground, while in the background is a pine-covered, snow-capped mountain peak. Across the top is the "Canadian National Railways" logotype; across the bottom are the words, "Across Canada", and in the lower left, above the artist name and date is "The Continental Limited in the Canadian Rockies"[3]

Preservation

One locomotive has been preserved:

References

  1. "CNR U-1-a and U-1-b locomotive diagram". Canadian National Railways Historical Association. Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  2. "Canadian National Railways Steam Locomotive Roster, Mountain Type". Retrieved 2011-06-13.
  3. http://www.1st-art-gallery.com/C.-Norwich/Canadian-National-Railways-Poster-1924.html Canadian National Railways Poster 1924
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