Erie class E-4
After many Vauclain compounds had been built in the USA, the Erie received three four-cylinder balanced compound Atlantics in 1905. These were the numbers 535 and 536 built by Baldwin and designated class E-4 which are shown here, and the number 537 built by ALCO-Schenectady and designated class E-5. They had their high pressure cylinders on the inside and low pressure cylinders on the outside.
With the general demise of compound locomotives in the USA, both were superheated and simpled in 1916 in the Erie's Hornell shops. In this process the boiler pressure was reduced from 225 to 200 psi, but the tube heating surface was only reduced moderately. After 536 was retired in 1942, 535 became the last Atlantic in service with the Erie when it was retired in 1947.
Technical data
General
| Property | as built | rebuilt |
|---|---|---|
| Built | 1905 | 1917 |
| Manufacturers | Baldwin | ERie |
| Wheel arrangement | 4-4-2 (Atlantic) | |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (Standard gauge) | |
Dimensions and weights
| Property | as built | rebuilt |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 9.17 m | 9.20 m |
| Total wheelbase | 18.25 m | 17.56 m |
| Service mass | 92.6 t | 91.2 t |
| Adhesion mass | 52.4 t | 47.8 t |
| Total mass | 162.9 t | 153.3 t |
| Rigid wheelbase | 2.13 m | |
| Axle load | 27.9 t | 24.5 t |
| Water capacity | 32,176 l | 25,741 l |
| Fuel capacity | 10.9 t (coal) | 12.7 t (coal) |
Boiler
| Property | as built | rebuilt |
|---|---|---|
| Grate area | 5.017 m² | |
| Firebox surface | 19.231 m² | |
| Tube heating surface | 318.844 m² | 237.089 m² |
| Evaporative heating surface | 338.074 m² | 256.32 m² |
| Total heating surface | 338.1 m² | 312.0 m² |
| Superheater surface | 55.649 m² | |
Power plant
| Property | as built | rebuilt |
|---|---|---|
| Driver diameter | 1,829 mm | 1,727 mm |
| Boiler pressure | 15.5 bar | 13.8 bar |
| Expansion type | compound | simple expansion |
| Cylinders | four, HP: 406 x 660 mm and LP: 686 x 660 mm | two, 572 x 660 mm |
Power
| Property | as built | rebuilt |
|---|---|---|
| Power source | steam | |
| Estimated power | 1,454 kW (1,977 PS) | 1,641 kW (2,231 PS) |
| Starting effort | 116.4 kN | 146.4 kN |
| Starting effort simple | 139.7 kN | |
Calculated values
| Property | as built | rebuilt |
|---|---|---|
| Factor of adhesion | 1 : 4.41 | 1 : 3.20 |
| Optimal speed | 77 km/h | 69 km/h |
| Power-to-weight ratio | 15.7 kW/t | 18.0 kW/t |
| Heating Surface Equivalent | 434.2 m² | 463.8 m² |
| Cylinder volume/HSE | 1 : 956.35 | 1 : 730.56 |
| Adhesive weight/Total | 1 : 1.77 | 1 : 1.91 |
| Tractive force/Heating surface | 1 : 7.19 | 1 : 9.80 |
| Grate area/Heating surface | 1 : 67.39 | 1 : 62.18 |
| Firebox/Tube surface | 1 : 16.58 | 1 : 12.33 |
| Total/Superheater | 1 : 4.61 |
