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Letter to Editor
February 14, 1881
The Sun
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
A letter to The Sun's editor corrects an article claiming the Pennsylvania Railroad has the world's most powerful passenger engines, asserting that the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad's Engine 411 holds that distinction in the US, with detailed specifications provided.
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Full Text
The Most Powerful Locomotive.
To the Editor of The Sun—Sir: In an article on "The Possibilities of the Locomotive" I read "We already have on the Pennsylvania Railroad, between New York and Philadelphia, the most powerful passenger engines in the world."
So far at least as the United States is concerned, the Philadelphia and Reading and not the Pennsylvania Railroad, is entitled to this distinction. Engine 411 of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, running between Philadelphia and Bound Brook, on fast New York express trains, has greater boiler and cylinder capacity than any passenger engine on the Pennsylvania Railroad, a larger grate area than probably any passenger engine in the world, and an available weight in adhesion fully competent to utilize her great boiler and cylinder power.
The boiler of engine 411 is 54 inches in diameter, with 184 two-inch tubes, 16 feet long, and a grate area of 76 square feet, cylinders 22 inches in diameter and 22 inches stroke, 60-inch driving wheels and 64,500 pounds on driving wheels. These dimensions, which engineers will recognize as ruling the computation of power unequaled by those of the passenger engines on the Pennsylvania or any other road in the United States.
Philadelphia, Feb. 11. J.S.B.
To the Editor of The Sun—Sir: In an article on "The Possibilities of the Locomotive" I read "We already have on the Pennsylvania Railroad, between New York and Philadelphia, the most powerful passenger engines in the world."
So far at least as the United States is concerned, the Philadelphia and Reading and not the Pennsylvania Railroad, is entitled to this distinction. Engine 411 of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, running between Philadelphia and Bound Brook, on fast New York express trains, has greater boiler and cylinder capacity than any passenger engine on the Pennsylvania Railroad, a larger grate area than probably any passenger engine in the world, and an available weight in adhesion fully competent to utilize her great boiler and cylinder power.
The boiler of engine 411 is 54 inches in diameter, with 184 two-inch tubes, 16 feet long, and a grate area of 76 square feet, cylinders 22 inches in diameter and 22 inches stroke, 60-inch driving wheels and 64,500 pounds on driving wheels. These dimensions, which engineers will recognize as ruling the computation of power unequaled by those of the passenger engines on the Pennsylvania or any other road in the United States.
Philadelphia, Feb. 11. J.S.B.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Persuasive
What themes does it cover?
Infrastructure
What keywords are associated?
Locomotive Power
Philadelphia And Reading Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
Engine 411
Boiler Capacity
Railroad Engines
What entities or persons were involved?
J.S.B.
To The Editor Of The Sun
Letter to Editor Details
Author
J.S.B.
Recipient
To The Editor Of The Sun
Main Argument
the philadelphia and reading railroad's engine 411 is the most powerful passenger engine in the united states, surpassing those on the pennsylvania railroad, based on its superior boiler, cylinder, and grate specifications.
Notable Details
Engine 411 Specs: 54 Inch Diameter Boiler, 184 Two Inch Tubes 16 Feet Long, 76 Sq Ft Grate Area, 22x22 Inch Cylinders, 60 Inch Driving Wheels, 64,500 Lbs On Drivers
Runs Between Philadelphia And Bound Brook On Fast New York Expresses