Chesapeake and Ohio Class L-2 and L-2a

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The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway's Class L-2 comprised eight coal-fired 4-6-4 "Hudson" type steam locomotives numbered #300–307 and built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1941. They had roller bearings on all axles, and the first-built, #300, had roller bearings on its side and main rods too. #300 also bore "Elephant ear" smoke deflectors from 1948.

In 1947, the C&O ordered five additional and very similar locomotives, numbering them #310–314; these were Class L-2a and differed mostly in using Franklin RC poppet valves instead of the Baker valve gear of the L-2s. These were the last express passenger steam locomotives ordered by a United States railroad, and some of the most expensive at $353,346 each, 80% more than the cost of the 8 earlier L-2 locomotives.^[1]

Both classes were among the largest 4-6-4s ever built. They were intended to work the C&O's top-flight express trains on level ground; the railroad purchased 4-8-4 "Greenbrier" types for mountain service.

By 1953, C&O passenger services were wholly dieselized, and there was no more work for these locomotives to do. Hudsons were very unsuited to freight work, with such a comparatively small proportion of their weight on the drivers. All were quickly scrapped.

[edit] Specifications (L-2a)

Builder	Baldwin Locomotive Works
Built	1947
Withdrawn	1953
Quantity	5
Road #s	#310–314
Cylinders	2, 25 in × 30 in (635 mm × 762 mm)
Driving wheels	78 in diameter (1.98 m)
Boiler pressure	255 lbf/in² (1.76 MPa)
Heating surfaces	4,233 ft² (393 m²
Superheater	1,810 ft² (168 m²)
Grate area	90 ft² (8.4 m²)
Fuel (coal)	60,000 lb (27,000 kg)
Water	21,000 US gallons (79,500 L)
Total weight (incl. tender)	893,000 lb (381,000 kg)
Adhesive weight	219,500 lb (100,000 kg)
Overall length	108 ft 0 in (32.92 m)

[edit] Notes

1. ^  Huddleston, Eugene L. (Jan/Feb 2002). "The outstanding features and many lives of C&O 614". Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Magazine.