Central of Georgia "Big Apple"

Central of Georgia K class
("Big Apple")
Type and origin
Power type Steam
Builder Lima Locomotive Works
Serial number 8254–8261
Build date October 1943
Total produced 8
Specifications
Configuration 4-8-4
UIC class 2′D2′ h2
Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia. 73.5 in (1.867 m)
Adhesive weight 260,000 lb (120 t)
Loco weight 447,400 pounds (202.9 t)
Boiler pressure 250 psi (1.72 MPa)
Cylinders Two, outside
Cylinder size 27 in × 30 in (686 mm × 762 mm)
Performance figures
Tractive effort 63,200 lbf (281.13 kN),
74,710 lbf (332.33 kN) with booster
Career
Operators Central of Georgia Railway
Class K
Numbers 451–458
Nicknames Big Apple
Retired 1953
Disposition All scrapped

The Central of Georgia Railway (CofG) K class (known as the "Big Apples") were a class of 4-8-4 steam locomotives produced by Lima Locomotive Works for the CofG during World War II.

The Central of Georgia Railway (CofG), like most other railroads, were in need of motive power during World War II. Freight and passenger traffic soared to new heights. Part of the wartime traffic consisted of "mains" as troop trains headed to and from the numerous military bases located on the line, namely Fort Benning, near Columbus, Georgia. The CofG had freight and passenger power that had been overhauled into tip top shape. However, it left it wear and tear on the existing steam engines. The Central decided they needed a new locomotive to replace their 4-8-2s in existing service handling trains like the Seminole and the Flamingo bought in from the Illinois Central Railroad and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad from Birmingham, Alabama. They decided that the class M Mountain could not handle those trains unassisted to Albany, Georgia.

The answer to this problem was answered by the Lima Locomotive Works in October 1943, when they delivered eight new dual service 4-8-4 locomotives. The engines were nicknamed "Big Apples" by engine crews on the western end of the railroad. Locomotive numbers were 451–458. Because of the War Production Board’s restriction on designing new engines, they were patterned after the Southern Pacific GS-2 type 4-8-4s.

It was noted in the 1944 Railway Mechanical Engineers that fuel performance for the CofG K class 4-8-4s was well under 100 lb of coal per 1,000 gross ton miles and averaged 11.4 lb per passenger-train car mile in service

The "Big Apples" operated in passenger and freight service from Albany, Georgia to both Birmingham, Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia. They could handle 1,500 tons between Birmingham and Columbus, Georgia, unassisted and 2,350 tons from Macon, Georgia to Americus, Georgia. It is also believed that they could handle as many as 17 passenger cars on the Seminole and the Flamingo.

They lasted in service for 10 years. In 1953, they were withdrawn from service and were scrapped later that year.

References

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