Soo Line classes H-3 and H-21 to H-23
In 1911 Soo Line and its Wisconsin Central subsidiary began manufacturing a series of Pacifics ranging from the H-3 to the H-23 of 1923. It started with eleven H-3s and ten H-21s, which differed almost only in the boilers of different sizes. Like their successors, they had cylinders measuring 25 by 26 inches and 75-inch wheels. The initial boiler pressure of 185 psi was soon increased to 200 psi. Three H-3s and one H-21 still exist today.
In 1914 four members of the class H-22 were added, which already had a slightly smaller boiler with a pressure of 200 psi. It was not until 1923 that six members of the class H-23 followed, which essentially corresponded to the H-22. These were retired by 1959. Numbers 2718 and 2719 still exist today. 2718 is now located at Green Bay, Wisconsin and 2719 was operational for a long time until the boiler deadline of 2013.
Technical data
General
| Property | H-3 | H-21 | H-22 | H-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built | 1911 | 1914 | 1923 | |
| Manufacturers | ALCO | |||
| Wheel arrangement | 4-6-2 (Pacific) | |||
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (Standard gauge) | |||
Dimensions and weights
| Property | H-3 | H-21 | H-22 | H-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length loco | 14.21 m | |||
| Wheelbase | 10.54 m | |||
| Total wheelbase | 20.17 m | 21.67 m | ||
| Service mass | 125.9 t | 117.5 t | 119.7 t | 127.5 t |
| Adhesion mass | 78 t | 71.9 t | 73.9 t | 78.2 t |
| Total mass | 190.8 t | 182.3 t | 184.7 t | 225 t |
| Rigid wheelbase | 4.12 m | |||
| Axle load | 27.9 t | 24.9 t | 26 t | 26.8 t |
| Water capacity | 28,391 l | 45,425 l | ||
| Fuel capacity | 10.9 t (coal) | 15.9 t (coal) | ||
| Length | 25.17 m | |||
Boiler
| Property | H-3 | H-21 | H-22 | H-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grate area | 4.901 m² | |||
| Firebox surface | 19.268 m² | 19.272 m² | 19.231 m² | |
| Tube heating surface | 295.859 m² | 309.516 m² | 295.856 m² | 294.689 m² |
| Evaporative heating surface | 315.127 m² | 328.784 m² | 315.127 m² | 313.92 m² |
| Superheater surface | 74.787 m² | 68.377 m² | 78.039 m² | |
| Total heating surface | 389.9 m² | 403.6 m² | 383.5 m² | 392.0 m² |
Power plant
| Property | H-3 | H-21 | H-22 | H-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Driver diameter | 1,905 mm | |||
| Boiler pressure | 12.8 bar | 13.8 bar | ||
| Expansion type | simple expansion | |||
| Cylinders | two, 635 x 660 mm | |||
Power
| Property | H-3 | H-21 | H-22 | H-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power source | steam | |||
| Estimated power | 1,380 kW (1,876 PS) | 1,398 kW (1,901 PS) | 1,473 kW (2,003 PS) | 1,491 kW (2,027 PS) |
| Starting effort | 151.6 kN | 163.8 kN | ||
Calculated values
| Property | H-3 | H-21 | H-22 | H-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Factor of adhesion | 1 : 5.05 | 1 : 4.65 | 1 : 4.43 | 1 : 4.68 |
| Optimal speed | 56 km/h | 55 km/h | 56 km/h | |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 11.0 kW/t | 11.9 kW/t | 12.3 kW/t | 11.7 kW/t |
| Heating Surface Equivalent | 561.0 m² | 574.7 m² | 548.2 m² | 566.2 m² |
| Cylinder volume/HSE | 1 : 745.56 | 1 : 727.84 | 1 : 762.96 | 1 : 738.82 |
| Adhesive weight/Total | 1 : 1.61 | 1 : 1.63 | 1 : 1.62 | 1 : 1.63 |
| Tractive force/Heating surface | 1 : 8.12 | 1 : 7.84 | 1 : 8.92 | 1 : 8.73 |
| Grate area/Heating surface | 1 : 79.56 | 1 : 82.34 | 1 : 78.25 | 1 : 79.98 |
| Firebox/Tube surface | 1 : 15.35 | 1 : 16.06 | 1 : 15.35 | 1 : 15.32 |
| Total/Superheater | 1 : 4.21 | 1 : 4.40 | 1 : 4.61 | 1 : 4.02 |