| This massive and powerful 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone type steam locomotive was built by Lima in October of 1939 with the traditional "rear-cab" arrangement, not to be confused with their "cab-forward" sisters. The AC-9 class was fitted with an air-smoothed casing similar to those on the GS-4 4-8-4 passenger locomotives (without the colors). In April of 1950, the loco was converted from coal to an oil burner at El Paso, TX. The loco then served for nearly 17 years before being vacated in July of 1955 at Spraks, NV and finally sold for scrap in October of 1955. Specs - class AC-9, 63 1/2" drivers, impressive 250 psi boiler pressure, four 24x32" cylinders, engine weight of 689,900 lb, impressive tractive effort of 124,300 lb.No date was given for the photo but it appears to be sitting on an active siding..Tthis would make it before 1955. An unknown photographer took this photo. |