Saturday, February 13, 2021

Chesapeake and Ohio class M-1


With diesel electric locomotives taking over from steam after WW2, the Chesapeake and Ohio railway, being a coal road, looked for a way to keep coal burning steam engines competitive. The Baldwin-built M1 used a conventional boiler but connected it to a marine-based steam turbine which turned an electric generator that drove electric motors.  The  coal was carried ahead of the cab, the boiler, turbine and generator occupied the second portion. The water was carried in a third car, streamlined to resemble a passenger car. Introduced in 1948, recurring mechanical problems soon sidelined it.  They were returned to Baldwin and scrapped in 1950. 
A noble effort and a very impressive-looking machine.  More here.



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