Central Vermont 220 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central Vermont 220 |
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| No. 220 on static display | |
| Power type | Steam |
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| Builder | American Locomotive Company (Schenectady Works) |
| Serial number | 55018 |
| Build date | February 1915 |
| Configuration | 4-6-0 |
| UIC classification | 2’C |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 69 in (1,800 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 58.79 ft (17.92 m) |
| Weight on drivers | 141,000 lb (64,000 kg) |
| Locomotive weight | 189,000 lb (86,000 kg) |
| Tender weight | 139,000 lb (63,000 kg) |
| Locomotive and tender combined weight | 328,000 lb (149,000 kg) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Fuel capacity | 12 short tons (10.9 tonnes) |
| Water capacity | 7,000 US gal (26,000 L; 5,800 imp gal) |
| Boiler pressure | 200 psi (1,400 kPa) |
| Fire grate area | 53.40 sq ft (4.961 m2) |
| Heating surface: Firebox | 184 sq ft (17.1 m2) |
| Cylinders | Two, outside |
| Cylinder size | 20 in × 28 in (510 mm × 710 mm) |
| Tractive effort | 27,594 lb (12,516 kg) |
| Factor of adhesion | 5.11 |
| Power class | I-7-a |
| Number in class | 3 of 4 |
| Retired | 1956 |
| Preserved | 1960 |
| Current owner | Shelburne Museum |
| Disposition | On static display |
Central Vermont 220 is a special steam locomotive that was built in February 1915. It's a "Ten-Wheeler" type, which means it has a specific wheel arrangement: four small wheels at the front, six large driving wheels in the middle, and no wheels at the back.
This powerful engine was made by the American Locomotive Company for the Central Vermont Railway. Today, you can see it preserved at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont. It's kept safe inside a building for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
The Story of Central Vermont 220
Building a Powerful Engine
In February 1915, the American Locomotive Company built Engine No. 220. This company had a factory in Schenectady, New York, called the Schenectady Works. No. 220 was the last coal-burning "ten-wheeler" steam engine used by the Central Vermont Railway.
A Train for Many Jobs
Because of its design, the No. 220 was a very useful engine. It had a medium size, which allowed it to do "double duty." This means it could pull both heavy freight trains (carrying goods) and passenger trains (carrying people).
The "Locomotive of the Presidents"
No. 220 became famous for a special reason. It was known as the "Locomotive of the Presidents." This is because it carried several United States presidents on special trips. These presidents included Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Steam Power Through the Years
Steam engines were the main type of locomotive in the United States for a long time. They were the only trains on the tracks until electric trains arrived in 1895. Even then, steam engines were still very common until the 1950s. That's when diesel engines started to be used much more often.
Retirement and Preservation
The Central Vermont Railway stopped using No. 220 in 1956. After its long service, the railway gave the engine to the Shelburne Museum. The museum wanted to keep this important piece of history safe. Soon after, the museum built a special shed around the locomotive. This shed protects No. 220 and a private train car called Grand Isle from bad weather.
See also
