| Soo Line B-4 class | |
|---|---|
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | American Locomotive Company |
| Build date | 1915 (6), 1920 (5) |
| Configuration | 0-6-0 |
| UIC classification | C h2 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 51 in (1,295 mm) |
| Wheelbase | Loco: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m) |
| Length | 58 ft 10 3⁄8 in (17.94 m) |
| Width | 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) |
| Height | 15 ft 3 1⁄2 in (4.66 m) |
| Axle load | 51,500 lb (23.4 tonnes) |
| Locomotive weight | 151,000 lb (68.5 tonnes) |
| Tender weight | 102,900 lb (46.7 tonnes) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 16,000 lb (7.3 tonnes) |
| Water capacity | 5,000 US gal (19,000 l; 4,200 imp gal) |
| Boiler pressure | 180 lbf/in² (1.24 MPa) |
| Cylinders | Two, outside |
| Cylinder size | 20 × 26 in (508 × 660 mm) |
| Valve gear | Walschaerts |
| Tractive effort | 31,200 lbf (138.78 kN) |
| Career | Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (Soo Line) |
| Class | B-4 |
| Number in class | 11 |
| Number | 344–354 |
| Preserved | #346; #353 |
| Disposition | Two preserved, of which one is operational |
The Soo Line B-4 class were 0-6-0 steam locomotives constructed for the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (Soo Line) by the American Locomotive Company. Six (#344–349) were built at their Schenectady plant in 1915, with a further five (#350–354) being constructed by their Brooks plant in Dunkirk, New York in 1920.
They were the last, and largest design of purpose-built switch engines that the Soo Line owned, any heavier switching duties were performed by down-graded 2-8-0 freight engines. All were still on the active roster in May 1953,[1] but all had been retired by the end December 1954 when the railroad completed its dieselization.
Two are preserved[2] - #363 from the first batch which is displayed at the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum at Tracy, Minnesota as Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern #9, and #353 from the second batch. which is operational today and gives free rides annually at the Western Minnesota Steam Thresher's Reunion, Rollag, Minnesota.
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