Southern Pacific class AC-3

Southern Pacific Railroad's AC-3 class of steam locomotive was the 3rd and last cab forward design based on the 2-8-8-2 wheel arrangement. All 20 locomotives in this class were rebuilds from MC-6 class locomotives originally built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1912 and 1913. The rebuilds all took place in the late 1920s at Southern Pacific's Sacramento shops.

Southern Pacific class AC-3
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
Specifications
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Driver dia.57 in (1,448 mm)
Adhesive weight440,800 lb (199,900 kg)
Loco weight481,200 lb (218,300 kg)
Boiler pressure210 psi (1,400 kPa)
Feedwater heater414-BL Worthington
Cylinder size22 in × 30 in (559 mm × 762 mm) in dia × stroke
Performance figures
Tractive effort90,940 lbf (404,500 N)
Career
OperatorsSouthern Pacific Railroad
ClassAC-3
Number in class20
Numbers4029 – 4048
Retired1946 – 1949
Dispositionscrapped

After the rebuilds, these locomotives were used through World War II. The AC-3ś were used for long freight runs, and during World War II sometimes for passenger/troop cars. All of this class were scrapped soon after retirement.

The first to be retired from active service were numbers 4040 and 4045, both on October 21, 1946; the last was number 4032 on August 8, 1949.

References

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  • Diebert, Timothy S. & Strapac, Joseph A. (1987). Southern Pacific Company Steam Locomotive Conpendium. Shade Tree Books. ISBN 0-930742-12-5.