The Class A and Roller Rods

[NW Mailing List]

38% weight difference is impressive! I don’t recall reading a specific number before. Thanks Bud. 

Is there a visible difference in the wheel centers? I assume counterweights would be smaller (or thinner?) to offset the lower revolving weight - and maybe a bit smaller for the reciprocating component?

Off to the archives to check photos. 

Matt Goodman
Columbus, Ohio

Sent from my mobile

On Jan 9, 2023, at 1:03 PM, NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org> wrote:

Jimmy,

The two main reasons were expense and a lack of need. When 1235-42 were built in 1949-50, three had conventional rods and the last five lightweight rods like the J's. The lightweight rod A's cost about $50K more to build because of the rods and the redesigned wheel centers to accommodate the rods weighing 38 percent less. The A's with conventional rods were adequate for moving heavy freight trains between major terminals of about 120 miles where each engine were lubricated after each run. The lightweight A's were for special used in passenger service, moving troops trains and later Time Freights 77 and 78 over three districts without having to lubricate the rods.

Bud Jeffries


-----Original Message-----
From: NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Saturday, January 7, 2023 7:54 PM
To: NW Mailing List <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: The Class A and Roller Rods

    Being that the last batch of Class A locomotives received the roller bearing rods, has there ever been a reason given that these same rods were not retrofitted to the other Class A's?

Jimmy Lisle

________________________________________
NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
To change your subscription go to
http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/

________________________________________
NW-Mailing-List at nwhs.org
To change your subscription go to
http://list.nwhs.org/mailman/options/nw-mailing-list
Browse the NW-Mailing-List archives at
http://list.nwhs.org/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/