The picture shows AT&SF 2926, one of the 30 "Northern" locomotives in service on
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad between 1944 and 1953.
The Baldwin Locomotive Works located in Eddystone, just south of
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania built 30 of these Northern "Class 2900" engines
for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. Northern was a name given to
this type of engines after the first ones were specifically built for the Northern
Pacific Railroad. These engines were ideally suited for fast passenger and
freight service and carried the numbers from 2900 through 2929.
Their 4-8-4 wheel arrangement consists of a leading truck having four wheels,
eight 80" drivers, followed by a trailing truck having four wheels. The drivers
generate 66,000 lbs. of traction effort, capable of reaching speeds of up to 110
miles per hour. The purpose of the leading trucks is for riding and tracking.
The trailing truck supports a larger than normal firebox generating more
steam for the extra boiler capacity of 300 psi (pounds per square inch).
Fully loaded with 24,500 gallons of water and 7,000 gallons of fuel oil, the
Engine & Tender weigh in at just under one million pounds and measure 120' - 10" long.
John Hobough was a fireman on the ATFS 2926.