I am not very knowledgeable, & a novice, so I figured I'd start here with my question/search. I have a 'Trains Gone By' marble dust/epoxy rendition of a CofG Engine #1604. Would you please share any info pertaining to this engine? Thank you.

-- M. Mitchell (mamfsb@bellsouth.net), October 01, 2002

Answers

The Central of Georgia renumbered all of its steam engines in 1925, and after that the highest number was 799, which indicates that 1604 must be an "old" number.

Old number 1604 became new number 404.

Prince shows a builder's photo of 1604 on page 78, which may well be the reason your model of this particular number was produced. The tender has "CENTRAL OF GEORGIA" between the rivets; the locomotive has "1604" under the cab windows and "1604" on the sand dome. The number also appears on the side of the headlight.

There should be a bell between the steam cabinet and the sand dome. Builder information appears on the side of the smoke box. Piping was very simple and it is a very elegant design.

1604 was a class "T" 4-6-0 built by Rogers Locomotive and Machine Works of Patterson, New Jersey, in 1904, construction number 5839. It had 20" x 26" cylinders and generated 200 PSI of steam when built. It had 69" drivers, with 25,600 pounds of tractive effort, and it weighed 169,600 pounds.

This locomotive was retired in December of 1935.

Class "T" locomotives on the Central meant Ten-Wheeler, which comes from the wheel arrangement, 4+6. Ten-Wheelers were successors to Eight-Wheelers or American Standard type locomotives, 4-4-0. The two extra drivers meant that a Ten-Wheeler could carry more weight for better adhesion without track damage.

Ten-Wheelers were used on fast passenger trains and slow freights, and in commuter service. Rogers delivered six Ten-Wheelers in 1902, numbers 1600 through 1605, and six more two years later. These were passenger locomotives, with D-slide valves and Stephenson Link valve gear.

Central reduced the steam pressure on most of the Ten-Wheelers to 190 PSI, which provided a more efficient, economical locomotive for secondary passenger service.

Source: Prince

Ron. Wright

-- Ron. Wright (ron@cofg.org), October 01, 2002.