Union Pacific class MK-1

The Union Pacific class MK-1 was a class of 2-8-2 'Mikado' type steam locomotives that were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works originally for the Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company (OR&N), Oregon Short Line Railroad (OSL) and Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in 1910 and 1911.

Union Pacific class MK-1
2111 in the snow in Idaho in the 1930s
Type and origin Power type steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Build date 1910-1911 Total produced 86
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 30½" Driver dia. 57" Trailing dia. 36" Wheelbase: ​  • Engine 34 ft 8 in  • Drivers 16 ft  • incl. tender 64 ft 7 in Axle load: ​  • Leading 24,100 lb  • Trailing 34,550 lb Adhesive weight 204,450 lb Loco weight 263,100 lb Tender type Vanderbilt tender in later batches Fuel type lignite Fuel capacity 10 tons Water cap. 9,000 US gallons Firebox: ​  • Grate area 70 sq ft Boiler: ​  • Tube plates 20 ft 6 in  • Small tubes 495× 2" Boiler pressure 180 psi Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 267 sq ft  • Tubes 5,292 sq ft  • Total surface 5,559 sq ft Cylinders 2 Cylinder size 23¾" × 30" Valve gear Walschaerts
Performance figures Tractive effort 45,300 lbf
Career Class UP: MK-1 Numbers 1900-1929, 2000-2014, 2100-2140 Preserved No. 2005 Disposition One preserved, remainder scrapped

History

In 1910, the Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company (OWR&N) purchased a 2-8-2 'Mikado' locomotive from the Baldwin Locomotive Works and had this single locomotive numbered 440, this locomotive would be renumbered as 500 in 1911, and renumbered to 2100 in 1915.

In 1911, the OWR&N would order another 40 of these locomotives from Baldwin where they were originally numbered as 501–540, but renumbered as 2101–2140. The Oregon Short Line Railroad (OSL) would order 15 locomotives from Baldwin and numbered them as 1100–1114, but renumbering them to 2000–2014 in 1915. The Union Pacific Railroad (UP) would order 30 locomotives from Baldwin where they numbered them as 500–529, renumbering them to 1900–1929 in 1915

OSL No. 2000 was sold to the Spokane International Railroad (SI) in 1947.

Design

The locomotives were designed from the outset to burn low-quality lignite coal as a fuel. In general they followed typical practice of the day for Baldwin designs and locomotives for Harriman's Associated Lines, but with some changes to the boiler and firebox. The boiler was cylindrical and the firebox was stayed with 400 radial rod stays, rather than girder crown stays. Given the poor quality of the fuel, a larger boiler was needed than usual for the power of the locomotive. The heating surface of 5,559 sq ft considerably exceeded that of the nearest comparable design, with 4,466. The grate bars were arranged as large cast grate sections spanning half the width of the firebox and arranged for rocking to clear ash. Airflow was provided by an unusually large number of narrow slots, to suit lignite. The brick arch was deeper than usual, again to suit lignite, and was supported by four arch tubes. The boiler, as built, was unsuperheated and had 495× 2" tubes.

At the time this was the largest Mikado built, although not quite the most powerful or with the most weight on its drivers.

Superheating

In 1912, the boiler was rebuilt to provide superheating. Half of the tubes were removed in favour of 36 larger flues containing superheater elements. Total heating area was reduced to 5,118 sq ft, although still large in its class.

Oil firing

Some were later converted to oil firing.

Preservation

Only one member of the class is in preservation, No. 2005, which is on static display at Ross Park based in Pocatello, Idaho.

Fleet numbers

Union Pacific

Extended content

Road number Built date Serial number First run date Retirement date Disposal date Notes 1900 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1901 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1902 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1903 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1904 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1905 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1906 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1907 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1908 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1909 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1910 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1911 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1912 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1913 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1914 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1915 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1916 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1917 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1918 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1919 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1920 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1921 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1922 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1923 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1924 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1925 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1926 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1927 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1928 1911 - - - - Scrapped 1929 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2000 April 1911 - - - - Sold to the Spokane International Railroad in 1947. Scrapped 2001 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2002 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2003 1911 - - - 1952 Scrapped 2004 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2005 April 1911 36367 - 1958 - On static display at the Ross Park in Pocatello, Idaho. 2006 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2007 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2008 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2009 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2010 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2011 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2012 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2013 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2014 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2100 1910 - - - 1955 Scrapped 2101 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2102 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2103 1911 - - - 1951 Scrapped 2104 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2105 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2106 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2107 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2108 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2109 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2110 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2111 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2112 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2113 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2114 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2115 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2116 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2117 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2118 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2119 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2120 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2121 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2122 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2123 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2124 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2125 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2126 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2127 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2128 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2129 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2130 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2131 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2132 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2133 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2134 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2135 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2136 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2137 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2138 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2139 1911 - - - - Scrapped 2140 1911 - - - - Scrapped