| Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad 2-6-2 Class R-5 2050, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sometime in 1906, photo by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Chuck Zeiler collection. Baldwin built fifty class R-5 2-6-2's for the CB&Q during 1906, numbered 2050-2099. They were basically an R-4 engine with a redesigned boiler. Fifty similar engines (#'s 2100-2149) were built by the Brooks Works of the American Locomotive Company during 1906, followed by an additional 75 (#'s 2150-2224) built by Brooks the following year. The R-5 Prairie had a boiler with a sloping course at the forward end of the barrel. The boiler shell diameter was thus tapered from 70 inches at the front to 79 inches at the firebox throat. Two of the Baldwin engines were fitted with fire-tube steam superheaters of the Emerson type. The successful performance of the superheaters (which increased the available energy from the steam for conversion to useful work) eventually led to their installation on other R-5 and R-4 locomotives. Although the total engine weight of the R-5 Prairies (159,540 pounds) was somewhat greater than that of the R-4 class (151,070 pounds), they developed about the same tractive force. Their cylinder dimensions (22" X 28"), operating boiler pressure (210 psi), and driving wheel diameter (69") were also the same. By the mid-1920's 15 of the R-5 engines had been rebuilt with new cylinders and valve gear of the Walschaerts type. The rebuilt engines were re-classed R-5A. The locomotive pictured was not rebuilt and was retired in June 1947. As built it had the piston rod extension seen above the pilot truck, which provided additional bearing support. This feature was later removed. |