The Erie Railroad Class R-1's were the first series of Heavy 2-10-2 "Santa Fe" Type Steam Locomotives of three classes built in the 1910's for Heavy Drag Service on Freight Duties that ran on the Erie Railroad.
Erie #4000 (W.C. Hayes) as-built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works. (February 1915 Prototype)
Design and History[]
In late 1913, the Erie Railroad had put over one-hundred and fifty N-1 class 2-8-2 Mikado's on full Revenue Freight service as being Modern designed freighters but wanting more Power the Erie decided to expand to the Faithful 2-10-2 design with an extra drive axle to face the Ever-growing demands of the early 20th Century. In late 1914, several months after the Outbreak of World War I, the Erie Railroad turned to the Baldwin Locomotive Works as a long-time trusted builder for a Prototype Engine off this proposed Basis. As construction began, this Locomotive would be very large for a two-cylinder Rigid framed engine. This design had Large 31" x 32" cylinders with unusually big 16" piston valves, driven by ten 63" Drivers at 200 Lbs. PSI it could generate a impressive 83,000 Lbs. of Tractive Effort. When the Prototype was finished at the Baldwin Plant in February 1915, it was numbered as #4000 named the "W.C. Hayes" after William Crowe Hayes, a Veteran Superintendent of Locomotive Operation on the Erie. He passed away on December 25th, 1915 at the age of sixty three as the locomotive's name eventually disappeared. The #4000 differed slightly than the other class members primarily in Boiler design, which was 90" inside with seven more fire tubes than all other class Members. Being a success in development power, the Railroad bought it's second 2-10-2 (#4001) which was the first production 2-10-2 on the Railroad arriving a year after the #4000. A few batches of R-1's were delivered between February 1916 to April 1917 by three Major Builders, the Baldwin Works, American Locomotive Company, and a few by the Lima Locomotive Works. The R-1 was the only series of "Santa Fe" type Freight Locomotives to be purchased from the Three Main Builders. Being the largest Rigid frame locomotives on the railroad, the engines themselves weighed 354,300 Lbs. trailing a Medium Vanderbilt Tender weight of 158,500 Lbs. With the Class being built starting in the mid 1910s, the Erie also had the R-2s built the same time to maximize the new Modern Pulling Standard on the Railroad and it's needs. Built for slow Drag Services on Freight, the R-1's was Well-Renown by Erie Crews for their Mighty Strength. With the last unit, the #4041 constructed by Lima Locomotive Works in April 1917, the R-1 class Rostered a total of 42 Units also being the most Numerous 2-10-2 Class on the Road. They were all built with Elvin Stokers (Especially the Lima units), but were all replaced by Dupont Stokers as the Elvin design proved to be Unreliable Functioning, one of the early flaws of the design.
Service and Rebuilding[]
When the first two classes of R class engines entered service in 1915-1917, they were primarily used in heavy Freight Assignments on the main divisions of the Erie Railroad. Lines where speed is no such concern, they were the Primary Mainline Freight Locomotive Choices until the late 1920's. Being assigned roles in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, the R-1's could haul a very impressive load at an unimpressive speed, but nonmatter what you Tied up behind them they easily handled the Job. The R-1 was known to have had very few performance Issues; the Steaming wasn't as great as the R-2 class due to much longer Fire Tubes. The Fire grate wasn't as large as the R-2's and the riding Qualities were proven to be hard on the Rails as going passed 25-35 Miles per hour it rode Roughly on the Rails. After the War and into the 1920's was when the R class was at its highest quantity, with three classes consisting of Ninety-seven Locomotives by 1921. With the use of the original Oddball stokers, they were complicated to use and before 1930 all of the 2-10-2's were rebuilt with more Efficient Dupont Simplex and Duplex Stokers which had better Maintenance and Operational standards. A year after the first S Class Berkshire arrived from the American Locomotive Company in 1927, the Erie Railroad began rebuilding the R's to better standards. Beginning in the Spring of 1928 the Railroad equipped a chunk of them with new Worthington Feedwater Heaters mounted on the Fireman's side of the engine in the position of where the air pumps are and relocated the Pumps to the Pilot deck for better Air circulation with the addition of Steel Ladders. As all were built with Internal Schmidt Superheaters, very few Modifications to the smokeboxes were ever made. Almost all locomotives had they're tender capacities extended to 24 Tons of Coal by adding bracket-mounted coal boards to the top of the Tenders. Unlike the R-2's the R-1's never was equipped with the Larger Six-axle rectangular tank Tenders and always retained they're Medium sized Steel-riveted Vanderbilt Tenders. These additions made the rebuilt R-1's much better steamers with little to no Issues at all, although the Speed didn't change by much at all. By the end of 1929 a chunk of the Un-rebuilt units was serving in Pusher and Helper roles on Freight Trains until Retirement. Although not as fast as the S Class Berkshires and N Class Mikado's, the R series actually did Well in double heading with them up steep mountains in Pennsylvania and the engine Crews found them most Ideal to double head a Single R-1 in front of a S class. Still with some of these great additions with older units, a large group of them sat in Railroad yards in Storage during the hard times of the Great Depression when Business was slow. Some of the unrebuilt R-1's were partially disassembled in some yards to have they're parts salvaged to keep the Rebuilt and a few of the unrebuilt R-1's in full swing.
Late Steam Era and Retirement[]
Sometimes due to low funds to keep all engines in service during the 1930's, or even for a design that was Obsolete to keep up with the new demands of Modern Changes, the first Scrapping's came in November 1939 with three engines #4001, #4022, and #4023 just two months after World War II began. With more scrapped by late March 1942 as America had already joined the War prior, the Erie Railroad kept twelve units in service to serve the Railroad during the War Emergency. Between 1942-1945 the Erie's remaining R-1's were found mainly in Pusher service to assist larger Locomotives on steep grades and some still worked Wartime Freights. Being great for double-heading with other Large Power, they were still a Popular choice with Secondary Roles. Throughout they're years of service, they served well and were always kept to date in Maintenance and Care. Despite 2-10-2's being outdated after 1945 in terms of speed and newer sets of faster Diesel-Electric Power, the Railroad didn't continue Retirements until 1947 after the Erie received some brand-new Freight-purpose Diesels. In primary pusher service for short distances was really among one of the only roles these engines could do with they're smaller Vanderbilt Tenders vs those with Second-hand S class six-axle Tenders. Almost all were out of steam in December 1948 and with the progression of the Railroad's Transition to Diesel Power in the Postwar years, only one (#4018) was still in Steam. Being the only Member left of the first "Santa Fe" Clan, it was Sold for Scrapping in June 1949 marking the end of the R-1 Series in General after serving the Railroad for over thirty-two years. As none were preserved, the following Year the Erie would begin scrapping the S class Berkshires unfortunately.
Stock List[]
| Numbers | Builder | Serial | Build Date | Retired and Scrapped | Tender Style | Stoker | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4000 | Baldwin | 41895 | February 1915 | March 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt | Dupont Type B Standard | R-1 Class Prototype, was Originally finished with Russian Iron Boiler Jacket. Was named W.C. Hayes. |
| 4001 | Baldwin | 42754 | January 1916 | November 1939 | Medium Vanderbilt | Dupont Type B Standard | First regular Production R-1, had a rebuild in the late 1920's with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air Pumps mounted on Pilot Deck. Had Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4002 | Baldwin | 42755 | January 1916 | February 1948 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt pilot assembly with Ladders and covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4003 | Baldwin | 42756 | January 1916 | February 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Had Open Turret Manifold. |
| 4004 | Baldwin | 42757 | January 1916 | June 1947 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Was equipped with Trailing Truck Booster by August 1940, Rebuilt by 1929 with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air pumps mounted on Pilot Deck. covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4005 | Baldwin | 42758 | January 1916 | January 1942 | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4006 | Baldwin | 42852 | February 1916 | January 1942 | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4007 | Baldwin | 42853 | February 1916 | February 1948 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt in 1920's with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air Pumps mounted on Pilot Deck. |
| 4008 | Baldwin | 42942 | March 1916 | January 1948 | MediumVanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Duplex D1 | Rebuilt by 1929 with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air Pumps mounted on Pilot Deck, had Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4009 | Baldwin | 42943 | March 1916 | January 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1929 with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air Pumps mounted on Pilot Deck, had Open Turret Manifold. |
| 4010 | Baldwin | 42944 | March 1916 | February 1942 | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4011 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55510 | March 1916 | December 1948 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Open Turret Mainfold. |
| 4012 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55511 | March 1916 | December 1948 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Had Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4013 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55512 | March 1916 | October 1948 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Duplex D1 | Rebuilt by 1929 with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air Pumps mounted on Pilot Deck, was used in Pusher Service in later years. Had a covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4014 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55513 | March 1916 | January 1949 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt pilot assembly with Ladders. |
| 4015 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55514 | March 1916 | March 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Equipped in 1930's with Trailing Truck Booster, had Open Turret Manifold. |
| 4016 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55515 | March 1916 | January 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Open Turret Manifold. |
| 4017 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55516 | March 1916 | March 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | |
| 4018 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55517 | March 1916 | June 1949 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Duplex D1 | Covered Turret Manifold, was only remaining member in service after February 1949, Scrapped by January 1950.  |
| 4019 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55518 | March 1916 | February 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | |
| 4020 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55519 | March 1916 | January 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt | Dupont Type B Standard | Had Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4021 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55520 | March 1916 | January 1949 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Was Rebuilt by 1929 with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air Pumps mounted on Pilot Deck, equipped with Trailing Truck Booster before August 1940. |
| 4022 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55521 | March 1916 | November 1939 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4023 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55522 | March 1916 | November 1939 | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4024 | Lima | 5113 | March 1916 | January 1949 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Duplex D1 | Had Open Turret Manifold. |
| 4025 | Lima | 5114 | March 1917 | February 1949 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Duplex D1 | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air Pumps mounted on Pilot Deck. |
| 4026 | Lima | 5115 | March 1917 | March 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt in May 1928 with Trailing Truck Booster with Covered Turret Manifold, had small plow under Pilot beam. |
| 4027 | Lima | 5116 | March 1917 | January 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Had Open Turret Manifold. |
| 4028 | Lima | 5117 | March 1917 | December 1939 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Had Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4029 | Baldwin | 43362 | May 1916 | December 1939 | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4030 | Baldwin | 43404 | May 1916 | December 1939 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Had Open Turret Manifold. |
| 4031 | Baldwin | 43405 | May 1916 | January 1942 | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4032 | Baldwin | 43406 | May 1916 | December 1939 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt in May 1928 with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air Pumps mounted on Pilot Deck, had Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4033 | Baldwin | 43407 | May 1916 | January 1942 | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4034 | Baldwin | 43408 | May 1916 | March 1942 | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4035 | Baldwin | 43548 | June 1916 | February 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Had Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4036 | Baldwin | 43549 | May 1916 | January 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Had Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4037 | Baldwin | 43550 | May 1916 | March 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt in May 1928 with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air Pumps mounted on Pilot Deck with Simplex Stoker, had Open Turret Manifold. |
| 4038 | Baldwin | 43551 | May 1916 | December 1939 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Had Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4039 | Lima | 5110 | April 1917 | January 1942 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt in June 1928 with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air Pumps mounted on Pilot Deck with Simplex Stoker. Had Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4040 | Lima | 5111 | April 1917 | December 1939 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Had Covered Turret Manifold. |
| 4041 | Lima | 5112 | April 1917 | December 1939 | Medium Vanderbilt (Extended Coal Sides) | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt sometime in 1928 with Worthington Feedwater Heater on side and Air Pumps mounted on Pilot Deck with Simplex Stoker. Had Open Turret Manifold. |
Trivia[]
- Being Good Freight Haulers on the Railroad when they were in service, they were still slow engines for the changing era as larger more faster Locomotives like the Erie's S Class 2-8-4's put many of them into Retirement over a decade after the Berkshires entered service.
- The R-1 was the only series of "Santa Fe" type Freight Locomotives to be purchased from the Three Main Builders, whereas the R-2 and R-3 class engines were built by one sole Builder.
- During March 1917, the Denver and Rio Grande Railway bought ten similar designed Locomotives known as the F-81 Class after 1924, despite having a slightly lower Boiler Pressure of 195 Lbs.
- With newer and more faster power available by the late 1920s, More than half the Class was scrapped by March 1942.
- In 1977, Kobra's (Korean Brass) ALCO Models released and offered a Ready-to-Run unpainted Brass Erie R-1 which to date has been the Only model of a True Erie-Designed R class 2-10-2 in HO Scale, the R-3 model was based on a USRA Design.