The locomotive’s performance was so disappointing that the Virginian cut it up into two road engines in 1920. The Virginian ordered its own Triplex from Baldwin, a 2-8-8-8-4, receiving it in 1916. The Erie withdrew the three locomotives in 1927, scrapping no. According to the book Erie Power, it wasn’t uncommon for two of the trio to be out of action at the same time for maintenance. But when one Triplex was out for repair, it equaled three engines pulled from regular duties. One Triplex engine could replace three out-of-service locomotives. Ultimately, the Erie’s experiment with the Triplex fell short. 09 percent grade with a five degree curve. It pulled 250 loaded freight cars, plus a dynamometer car, at 14 mph up a. 50 in 1916.Įquipped with a mechanical stoker, the Triplex demonstrated superb capability in a tonnage test. The Triplex’s wheel base measured 91 feet long but only 16 of those feet were rigid, classifying it as an articulated engine.Įrie ordered three of the locomotives from Baldwin, no. The Triplex, by using three sets of drive wheels and the weight of the coal bunker to assist traction, had 89 percent of its body weight available for adhesion (a 2-8-8-2 had only 65 percent available). It’s the same story that led to the creation of the 0-8-8-0, only it took place a few years later. While this Triplex locomotive shares much in common with the 0-8-8-0 (blue boiler, Erie Railroad, same O gauge manufacturer), it’s got even more wheels – 28 in total!Ī Baldwin Locomotive Works engineer created the Triplex to balance the costs (in men and machines) associated with helping heavy freight trains over mountain grades. NO, THIS ISN’T THE review about the blue Erie 0-8-8-0.
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