Florida East Coast Railway Locomotive No. 153 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Florida East Coast 153
FEC 153 on display at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum, Miami, Florida
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder American Locomotive Company Serial number 63262 Build date 1922
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-6-2  • UIC 2′C1′ h Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 68 in (1.727 m) Adhesive weight 126,500 lb (57.4 t) Loco weight 204,000 lb (92.5 t) Tender weight 162,000 lb (73.5 t) Fuel type Oil Fuel capacity 3,500 US gallons (13,000 L; 2,900 imp gal) Water cap. 7,300 US gallons (28,000 L; 6,100 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 47.1 sq ft (4.4 m2) Boiler pressure 180 lbf/in2 (1.24 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 160 sq ft (14.9 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 440 sq ft (40.9 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 22 in × 26 in (559 mm × 660 mm) Valve gear Walschaerts Valve type 11-inch (279 mm) piston valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 28,314 lbf (125.9 kN) Factor of adh. 4.47
Career Operators Florida East Coast Railway Class 151 Power class 77 Numbers 153 Disposition Static Display Florida East Coast Railway Locomotive No. 153 U.S. National Register of Historic Places Location in Florida Show map of Florida Location in the United States Show map of the United States Location Miami, Florida NRHP reference No. 85000303 Added to NRHP February 21, 1985

The Florida East Coast Railway Locomotive No. 153 is a special old steam locomotive. It's a type of train called a 4-6-2 ALCO steam engine. You can find it in Miami, Florida, USA. This locomotive has a long and interesting history.

A Historic Journey: FEC 153's Early Years

This amazing locomotive worked for the Florida East Coast Railway from 1922 to 1938. One of its most famous trips was in 1928. It pulled a train carrying President Calvin Coolidge to Miami. Imagine a president riding on this very train!

Braving the Storm: The Rescue Train

In 1935, Locomotive #153 was working on the route between Miami and Key West. A very strong storm, a hurricane, hit Florida that year. It destroyed many bridges leading to the Florida Keys. Locomotive #153 was one of the last engines to reach Miami before the bridges were gone.

After the storm, #153 became a hero. It pulled a "rescue train" out of Marathon, helping people get to safety. Because of this brave act, #153 was named a National Historic Site in the 1980s. This means it's a very important place or item in American history.

Later Life and Preservation

After 1938, Locomotive #153 changed jobs. It became an industrial switcher for the United States Sugar Corporation in Clewiston, Florida. A switcher is a smaller train used to move cars around in a yard.

In 1957, the locomotive found a new home. It was given to the University of Miami. From 1957 to 1966, it was a working train again. It ran in Miami every Sunday, giving rides and showing off its power. In 1966, it got a big repair and was checked by experts.

Where is FEC 153 Now?

Today, the Florida East Coast Railway Locomotive No. 153 is not running. It is out of service because of its age and some damage from Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

On February 21, 1985, this locomotive was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places and things that are important to the country's history. You can visit Locomotive #153 at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum. It is located at 12400 Southwest 152nd Street, Miami, Florida.

Images for kids

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  FEC #153 (left), along side FEC #113 (right), at Fort Lauderdale around the 1970's.

See also

In Spanish: Locomotora No.º 153 del Ferrocarril de la Costa Este de la Florida para niños