| Beautiful action shot of Louisville & Nashville 2-8-4 Bershire #1953 with a long drag of loaded coal cars. According to www.steamlocomotives.com, "Built by Baldwin in 1942 and 1944 and by Lima in 1949, these engines were the epitome of the North American fast freight locomotive at the end of the steam era. On the Eastern Kentucky line, notes Castner, these engines regularly managed 124-car, 9,500-ton coal trains alone between Neon and DeCoursey, using helpers only on the Jackson and Ravenna grades." Specs - M-1 class, 69" drivers, impressive 265 psi boiler pressure, 25x32" cylinders, engine weight of 447,200 lb, tractive effort of 65,290 lb. The class was scrapped in 1956. Unknown photographer, no location or date given. |