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RE: (erielack) PSC Erie K-5b's

K5 drivers were 79"

The single K5b, 2960, was heavier than the basic K5, 321870 vs 315860 total engine weight, and total
locomotive weight, 546170 vs 521480.  The cylinders were slightly wider at 10'-4 1/4" vs 10'-3 3/8"
The cylinder horse power is higher for the 2960, at 2965, against 2753, as is Tractive Power 49600,
vs 46100.  But the factor of adhesion is slightly lower for the K5b, at 4.1, vs 4.38.

Summary, the K5b was slightly more powerful, but slipperier than the K5.

Baldwin wanted to build 2960 as an example of a "Uni-flow" design.  According to a discussion I had
with Dan Biernacki, it sat at Baldwin for nearly a year, before being completed as a normal K5.  My
diagram book lists the K5 as being built in 1923, the K5b in 1926, so Dan's "a year" might be low.
Baldwin couldn't make the "Uni-flow" design, which was used in Marine engines, work in a locomotive.
I can't tell you what is unique about a "Uni-flow" engine design (it's probably out there on
Wikipedia or something), but it had to do with the design of the cylinders and it required a larger
than normal stack diameter.  2960 is, of course, unique  because of the tender which was original
equipment, a Vanderbilt, unlike all the box tenders on all the other K5s.

Incidentally, Box Pok drivers do  not correlate, as some think, with the rebuilding that made a K5
in to a K5a.  the tip-off to a K5a is the valve gear hanger.  If it's a cast hanger, without rivets,
it's a rebuild.  If it's a fabricated hanger bolted together, it's a K5.

SGL

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lee Ryglinski [mailto:lee.ryglinski_@_gmail.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 8:36 PM
> To: EL List
> Subject: (erielack) PSC Erie K-5b's
> 
> I spoke with Al at Greenway Products about placing a reservation for PSC
> 18072-1, Erie K-5b #2960 with a vanderbilt tender and box pok drivers.
> His comment was "let's hope they decide to do one in a few years" and
> "no clue on price but something through the roof." He did ask me if I
> knew what size drivers they had, I don't know and told him I would post
> to the list. So if anyone would know the driver size, I'd appreciate it.
> The majority of pictures on George Ellwood's Fallen Flags site of Erie
> 2960 list it as a K-5a, what would be different about a K-5b, and would
> anyone know of any pictures of 2960 as a K-5b?
> 
> Many Thanks
> 
> Lee Ryglinski
> ELHS 1265
> 
> lee.ryglinski_@_gmail.com
> 
> 
> 
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