Baltimore and Ohio Class N-1

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B&O #5600 George H. Emerson
B&O #5600 George H. Emerson
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad #5600 George H. Emerson
Power type Steam
Builder Mt. Clare Shops
Build date 1931
Configuration 4-4-4-4
Gauge ft 8½ in (1435 mm)
Driver size 76 in (1.93 m)
Length !117 ft 0¼ in (35.67 m)
Weight on drivers 238,000 lb (108,000 kg)
Locomotive and tender combined weight 736,500 lb (334,000 kg)
Fuel type coal
Tender capacity 46,000 lb (21,000 kg) coal, 22,000 US gallons (83,000 L) water
Boiler pressure 350 lbf/in² (2.41 MPa)
Heating surface: Total 4,857 ft² (451 m²
Superheater area 1,312 ft² (122 m²)
Cylinders 4 (duplex)
Cylinder size 18 in × 26½ in (457 mm × 673 mm)
Career Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Class N-1
Number in class 1
Number 5600
Official name George H. Emerson

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's sole Class N-1 steam locomotive, #5600 George H. Emerson, was the first duplex locomotive and the first 4-4-4-4 locomotive ever built. It was designed and built by the railroad's own shops in 1937. 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.

Detail, showing the rearward cylinders and gear.
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Detail, showing the rearward cylinders and gear.