Pennsylvania Railroad Class K3

Pennsylvania Railroad Class K3
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Baldwin Locomotive Works
Build date	1913
Total produced	30
Classification	K3, K3a
Wheel arrangement	4-6-2 "Pacific"
Rail gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Cylinders	Two, Outside
Boiler pressure	205 psi (14.10 kPa)
Bore stroke	26 in x 26 in (660 mm x 660 mm)
Firegrate area	55.40 sq ft (5.15 m2)
Fuel type	Coal
Heating area	845 sq ft (78.53 m2)
Performance figures
Tractive effort	38,283 lbf (170.3 kN)
Factor of adhesion	4.95
Disposition details
Preserved	None were preserved
Disposition	All Scrapped

The Pennsylvania Railroad Class K3 was a class of 30 Baldwin-built 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive that were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1913 for the Pennsylvania Railroad as part of their K Series.

History

The K3s were one of Pennsylvania's first examples of a 4-6-2 Pacific passenger steam locomotive. The first of this type ordered by the PRR was the lone K28, bought from the Pittsburgh Works of the American Locomotive Company (ALCo). It was given the road number 7067 and had 80" drivers, 24" x 26" cylinders, a boiler pressure of 205 psi, exerted 32,620 lbs of tractive effort and weighed 273,600 pounds. After being put through the rugged and strict testing the PRR was famous for, the company decided that this locomotive type was what it needed for passenger service. Development began on more "personalized" engines better suited to the unforgiving mountain terrain which made up the majority of the PRR's mainline.

The first of the series were known as the Class K2 which were near copies of the original ALCO locomotive, sharing many characteristics such as duplicate driver diameter, cylinder diameter, tractive effort, and boiler pressure, though they were slightly heavier at 278,00 pounds. In 1913, Baldwin Locomotive Works built 30 new Pacifics similar to the K2 class, but with 26" diameter cylinders, superheater equipment and mechanical stokers. These were designated the K3 class. They were all delivered to the Pennsylvania Railroad that same year and they had subclasses, such as the Class K3a. Five examples that were built in 1913 were delivered to the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1913, but were sold to the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1930 where they were reclassed as the Class E3 by the N&W.

Nos. 7149, 7793, 8091, 8232, and 8659 were often leased to work on the Long Island Railroad, a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad.

The class was eventually withdrawn from active service and not a single example of the Class K3, nor Class K3a were preserved. They were all scrapped after the Pennsylvania Railroad had switched to diesel power. All that's left of the Pennsylvania Railroad Class K locomotives are two surviving K4 Pacifics, Nos. 1361 and 3750

Stock list

Class K3

Image	No.	Works No.	Build date	Manufacturer	Status
Frameless	7004		1913	Baldwin Locomotive Works	Scrapped
Frameless		39728	1913	Baldwin Locomotive Works	Scrapped
Frameless		39729	1913	Baldwin Locomotive Works	Scrapped

Class K3a

Image	Works No.	Build date	Manufacturer	Status	Notes
Frameless	39730	1913	Baldwin Locomotive Works	Scrapped	Sold to the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1930 and Classed as an E3
Frameless	39764	1913	Baldwin Locomotive Works	Scrapped	Sold to the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1930 and Classed as an E3

References

http://www.trainsarefun.com/lirr/lirrengines.htm