Soo Line 2718

Soo Line 2718 is a H-23 class 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive that was originally owned by the Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway (the "Soo Line"), but operated by their subsidiary, the Wisconsin Central Railway.

Soo Line 2718
Soo Line 2718 on display at the National Railroad Museum, next to Santa Fe 5017
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder American Locomotive Company Serial number 64313 Model H-23 Build date May 1923 Total produced 6
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2  • UIC 2′C1′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 36 in (914 mm) Driver dia. 75 in (1,905 mm) Trailing dia. 50 in (1,270 mm) Wheelbase 31 ft 10 in (9.70 m) Length Loco only: 46 ft 7+1⁄2 in (14.21 m); Loco & tender: 82 ft 6+3⁄4 in (25.17 m) Width 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m) Height 15 ft 3+1⁄2 in (4.66 m) Adhesive weight 172,400 lb (78.2 tonnes) Loco weight 281,080 lb (127.5 tonnes) Total weight 497,080 lb (225.5 tonnes) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 35,000 lb (15.9 tonnes) Water cap. 12,000 US gal (45,000 L; 10,000 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 52.75 sq ft (4.901 m2) Boiler pressure 200 lbf/in2 (1.38 MPa) Feedwater heater Worthington SCA-2A Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 207 sq ft (19.2 m2)  • Flues 3,172 sq ft (294.7 m2)  • Total surface 4,639 sq ft (431.0 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 1,260 sq ft (117 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 25 in × 26 in (635 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type Piston valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 36,833 lbf (163.84 kN) Factor of adh. 4.68
Career Operators Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad (“Soo Line”) Class H-23 Number in class 1st of 6 Numbers 2718-2723 Locale Wisconsin & Minnesota Delivered May 1923 Retired 1958 Preserved February 1958 Current owner National Railroad Museum Disposition On static display, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin

History

2718 was built in May, 1923 in Schenectady, New York. It was one of six H-23 class Pacific steam locomotives built for the Soo Line.^[1] In the Soo Line's naming scheme, 'H' indicated the Pacific wheel arrangement.^[1] The H-23 were their last Pacific class built.

2718 was donated to the National Railroad Museum in February 1958. The museum used it for a few years to move cars around the grounds. It also saw limited service pulling the museum train.

Other H-23 class locomotives

Main article: Soo Line locomotives

There were six H-23 class locomotives built in May 1923. One of them is on display.

• 2719 - Preserved at Lake Superior Museum in Duluth, Minnesota
• 2720 - Scrapped at United States Steel, July 19, 1951
• 2721 - Scrapped at Purdy Company, November 13, 1950
• 2722 - Scrapped at American Iron & Supply, December 28, 1954
• 2723 - Scrapped at Purdy Company, November 13, 1950