The Erie Railroad Class R-2's were the second 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.
Engine #4109 in Service, rebuilt with Larger Tender and Heater, this unit was built in June 1916.
Design and History[]
In 1915 as the First locomotive of the R-1 batch of 2-10-2's arrived on the Property in February, the Railroad was also consisting of building a second type of heavy "Santa Fe's" for the Railroad's heavy Freight needs for the expanding needs of the early 20th Century. In the Fall of 1915 and Answer emerged, a slightly larger version, Initially the smaller railroad in the East coast the New York, Ontario and Western Ry. took an order of twelve Heavy 2-10-2's with Wagon top Boilers sporting very large 31" x 32" Pistons with small 57" Drivers. The Erie Railroad decided that it's next delivery would be based on that design, but with some better Modifications and Steaming Capacities. Turning towards trusted Builder the American Locomotive Company's Schenectady Works for this new Order. This type classified as the R-2 sported the same cylinder Diameter, but the Erie redesigned them with larger 63" drivers with Mechanical Stokers. They're Boiler Pressures were pressed to 200 Lbs. than the NYO&W's X Class set at 190 Lbs. producing 83,000 Lbs. of Tractive Effort matching the capabilities of the earlier R-1's. With shorter Fire Tubes and a larger with wider Firebox, these engines had a rather Chunky short appearance with a massive 104" rear diameter of the Boiler in the style of the Wagon top type. When built, all were delivered with Medium Vanderbilt Tenders with 19 Tons of Coal and 10,000 Gallons of Water. One thing that the R-2's and NYO&W's X Class shared in Common was they both had Inside-framed open Trailing Truck wheels. ALCO-Schenectady delivered the first Five in November 1915 of the eventual Thiry by the Summer of 1917. The Erie units were all Stoker Equipped as the X Class beforehand were all delivered as Hand-fired units.
Service and Rebuilding[]
Put into service five units by January 1916, the R-2 was Larger than the R-1 in terms of Boiler specs, but the R-1's had longer Boilers, Tubes, and Wheelbases. Assigned to heavy Drag freight Service, these locomotives were found to be Successful on Helper/Pusher Service in Pennsylvania and New York. It was found that although they operated at the same Traction, the R-2's were better Steaming and had better Factor of Adhesion, although did not differ by very much. They were liked better than the R-1 and were great Haulers, although being a bit rough on the Track with they're thick heavy counterweights. The next twenty-Five were delivered between June 1916 and June 1917 totaling Thirty. In the late 1920's a majority of the members of the class received larger six-axle Rectangular Tender in place of their smaller Vanderbilt's. These newer Tenders were given from S-1, 2 and 3 Class Berkshires when they switched to Larger Coal Tenders after 1929 as these Greatly Improved the R-2's distances. Around this time by 1930, several received the more Modern Dupont Type B Stokers with Worthington Feedwater Heaters mounded in front of the smokestack on the Firebox with Cold and Hot water Pipes reaching down to the pilot's Mounted Pump keeping they're Side Air Pumps on the Fireman's Side as a majority of them received New Steel Ladders on their Pilot decks. The Conversions were successful, and the Rebuilt R-2 engines remained in prime Freight duties where Speed was no such concern, even so, they were popular to Double-head with the S Class Berkshires. As said, all 2-10-2's on the Railroad were Well-Renown for they're great Power, although not very popular with Crews. During the Great Depression in the 1930's, the Erie put a majority of the Vanderbilt-equipped unrebuilt R-2's in Storage as the lack of Funds and Service couldn't always keep them in Full use along with the others. With more than what was needed with the changing times of Speed terms, the first several locomotives were Scrapped early in November to December 1939 as all the Rebuilt units were kept in Service in any Roles they could Find.
Late Steam Era and Retirement[]
After America joined World War II in December 1941, several were being scrapped at the Time as a variety of them were still in service, Primarily the Rebuilt units. All the remaining R-2's by April 1942 were bought up from Storage and Pressed into heavy Freight Service and Secondary Roles throughout the Industrial East of Pennsylvania along with other R series Locomotives. Due to their Age and Speed, they helped out in Pusher Roles on steep grades that they were so well designed to Conquer. Some of the Rebuilt units were ideal to Doublehead with other Modern Power thanks for their strength. One was known to give up the Long-Haul Tender for a regular Vanderbilt for short distance Pusher/Helper assignments in the 1940's. As most of the NYO&W's Similar X Class 2-10-2's were Scrapped by June 1944, the Erie kept onto them Longer until the Railroad began Buying new Diesel-Electric Power after 1945. In the late 1940's as the Diesels began replacing the Freight Locomotives, the 2-10-2's were the First Motive Power to being Cutting up as Scrapping's resumed in 1947. By January 1949, only three were left on the Roster with a Full fleet of Berkshire's and by Spring of 1950, only one R-2 was in Full service as the Sole survivor of the Class Actively. As #4213 was Sold for Scrap in April 1950, it was the very last of the Early Erie 2-10-2's to reach the Breaker's Yard and was the Longest lived of all R-2's. Unfortunately, as Steam Operations was Discontinued in March 1954, none were Preserved.
Stock List[]
| Number(s) | Builder | Serial | Build Date | Retired and Scrapped | Tender Style | Feedwater Heater | Stoker | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4100 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55422 | November 1915 | January 1948 | 24T Long Haul | Worthington Type 5-S | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Heater and Pilot Ladders with New Stoker. |
| 4101 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55423 | November 1915 | December 1941 | Medium Vanderbilt | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4102 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55424 | November 1915 | February 1948 | 24T Long Haul | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4103 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55425 | November 1915 | February 1940 | Medium Vanderbilt | Likely a Duplex type | ||
| 4104 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55426 | November 1915 | December 1947 | 24T Long Haul | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4105 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55937 | June 1916 | January 1940 | Medium Vanderbilt | Likely a Duplex type | ||
| 4106 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55938 | June 1916 | January 1948 | 24T Long Haul | Worthington Type 5-S | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Heater and Pilot Ladders with New Stoker. |
| 4107 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55939 | June 1916 | December 1941 | Medium Vanderbilt | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4108 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55940 | June 1916 | December 1941 | Medium Vanderbilt | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4109 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55941 | June 1916 | January 1949 | 24T Long Haul | Worthington Type 5-S | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Heater and Pilot Ladders with New Stoker. |
| 4110 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55942 | June 1916 | December 1939 | Medium Vanderbilt | Likely a Duplex type | ||
| 4111 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55943 | June 1916 | March 1948 | 24T Long Haul | Worthington Type 5-S | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Heater and Pilot Ladders with New Stoker. |
| 4112 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55944 | June 1916 | December 1941 | Medium Vanderbilt | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4113 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55945 | June 1916 | April 1950 | 24T Long Haul | Dupont Type B Standard | Was last R-2 and very last non-USRA designed 2-10-2 unit in service after the Scrapping of R-1 #3018 in June 1949. | |
| 4114 | ALCO-Schenectady | 55946 | June 1916 | February 1949 | 24T Long Haul | Worthington Type 5-S | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Heater and Pilot Ladders with New Stoker. |
| 4115 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57269 | May 1917 | January 1948 | Medium Vanderbilt | Likely a Duplex type | ||
| 4116 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57270 | May 1917 | March 1940 | Medium Vanderbilt | Likely a Duplex type | ||
| 4117 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57271 | May 1917 | January 1940 | Medium Vanderbilt | Likely a Duplex type | ||
| 4118 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57272 | May 1917 | December 1948 | 24T Long Haul | Worthington Type 5-S | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Heater and Pilot Ladders with New Stoker. |
| 4119 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57273 | May 1917 | March 1940 | Medium Vanderbilt | Likely a Duplex type | ||
| 4120 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57274 | June 1917 | February 1940 | Medium Vanderbilt | Likely a Duplex type | ||
| 4121 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57275 | June 1917 | November 1939 | Medium Vanderbilt | Likely a Duplex type | ||
| 4122 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57276 | June 1917 | February 1949 | 24T Long Haul | Worthington Type 5-S | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Heater and Pilot Ladders with New Stoker. |
| 4123 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57277 | June 1917 | May 1947 | 24T Long Haul | Worthington Type 5-S | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Heater and Pilot Ladders with New Stoker. |
| 4124 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57278 | June 1917 | February 1948 | 24T Long Haul, later Medium Vanderbilt. | Worthington Type 5-S | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Heater and Pilot Ladders with New Stoker. |
| 4125 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57279 | June 1917 | December 1939 | Medium Vanderbilt | Likely a Duplex type | ||
| 4126 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57280 | June 1917 | February 1948 | 24T Long Haul | Dupont Type B Standard | ||
| 4127 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57281 | June 1917 | January 1948 | 24T Long Haul | Worthington Type 5-S | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Heater and Pilot Ladders with New Stoker. |
| 4128 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57282 | June 1917 | February 1940 | Medium Vanderbilt | Likely a Duplex type | ||
| 4129 | ALCO-Schenectady | 57283 | June 1917 | February 1948 | 24T Long Haul | Elesco | Dupont Type B Standard | Rebuilt by 1930's with Worthington Heater and Pilot Ladders with New Stoker, was only R-2 equipped with Elesco Pump and Heater. |
Trivia[]
- The R-2's was a little over six feet shorter in wheelbase with its original Tender than a R-1 but was Larger and Heavier than any R Class on the Erie Railroad. 
- The R-2's were the Only R series engines to receive larger Tender Swaps as other remaining engines kept they're Original Tenders. 
- #4113 was the only non-USRA 2-10-2 on the Erie to make it to the 1950's, being Scrapped in April 1950.