Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis 576 is a 4-8-4 "Dixie" (Northern) type steam locomotive built in August 1942 by the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York, for the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway (NC&StL) as a member of the J3 class. Designed with some of the latest locomotive technological features of the time, the J3s were used to haul heavy freight and troop trains to aid the American war effort during World War II.
Quick Facts Type and origin, Power type ...
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis 576 |
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Type and origin |
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References:[1][2] | Power type | Steam |
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Designer | Clarence M. Darden |
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Builder | ALCO's Schenectady Works |
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Serial number | 69786 |
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Build date | August 1942 |
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Specifications |
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Configuration:
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• Whyte | 4-8-4 |
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Gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
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Driver dia. | 70 in (1,778 mm) |
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Minimum curve | 19° |
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Wheelbase | Overall: 86 ft 6 in (26,365 mm) |
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Height | 15 ft 5 in (4.70 m) |
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Axle load | 66,622.5 lb (30,219.5 kilograms; 30.2195 metric tons) |
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Adhesive weight | 228,000 lb (103,000 kg) |
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Loco weight | 400,500 lb (181,700 kg) |
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Tender weight | 285,000 lb (129,000 kg) |
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Total weight | 685,500 lb (310,900 kg) |
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Fuel type | Coal |
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Fuel capacity | 36,000 lb (16 tonnes) |
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Water cap. | 15,000 US gal (57,000 L; 12,000 imp gal) |
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Fuel consumption | 4 t (3.9 long tons; 4.4 short tons) of coal per hour 7,000 US gallons (26,000 L) of water per hour |
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Firebox: | |
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• Grate area | 77.30 sq ft (7.2 m2) |
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Boiler pressure | 250 psi (1.72 MPa) |
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Feedwater heater | Worthington Type SA 9,000 US gal/hr cap |
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Superheater | Elesco Type E |
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Cylinders | Two |
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Cylinder size | 25 in × 30 in (635 mm × 762 mm) |
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Valve gear | Walschaerts |
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Performance figures |
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Maximum speed | 90–110 mph (145–177 km/h) |
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Power output | Estimated 4,000 hp (3,000 kW) |
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Tractive effort | 57,000 lbf (253.5 kN) |
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Factor of adh. | 4.01 |
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Career |
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Operators | |
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Class | |
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Number in class | 7 of 20 |
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Numbers | |
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Nicknames | - "Yellow Jacket"
- "The Stripe"
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Locale | Tennessee |
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First run | August 18, 1942 |
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Retired | September 2, 1952 |
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Preserved | September 20, 1953 |
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Current owner | |
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Disposition | Undergoing restoration to operating condition |
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Close
Faced with dwindling traffic and the onset of dieselization, the J3s were retired from revenue service and scrapped by September 2, 1952, with the exception of No. 576, which was donated to the City of Nashville, Tennessee, and put on display at the Centennial Park as the sole surviving steam locomotive of the NC&StL Railway.
The No. 576 locomotive is being restored to operating condition by the Nashville Steam Preservation Society (NSPS) for use in excursion service on the shortline Nashville and Eastern Railroad. The restoration work is expected to be completed by late 2024 or early 2025.