#318 TRRA

#318 Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis

Built by TRRA in it's Brooklyn, IL shops in 1926.

8-wheel switcher and burns coal, 0-8-0

First one-piece cast frame incorporating cylinders

Cosmetically restored in the early 1990's

This eight-wheel (0-8-0), heavy steam switcher was “home-built” at the TRRA’s Brooklyn, IL, shops as part of a series of eight “J” class engines built from 1926 – 30. It was the first steam locomotive ever built with a one-piece, solid cast steel locomotive bed, which included its cylinders with the frame and pilot beam. The Commonwealth Steel Company (later General Steel Castings) of Granite City, IL, made this most intricate and difficult casting. Its success lead to this type of locomotive bed being used on nearly every modern steam locomotive. It was one of the principal design developments of the 20th century steam locomotive, replacing many parts bolted and riveted together in fabricated frames. This saved weight, greatly reduced maintenance and insured alignment of critical parts. Its tender has a one-piece cast tank bottom, with sides and bracing all welded to eliminate problems with riveted construction.

The locomotive has 52” drive wheels, 26” x 28” cylinders, weighed 209.5 tons in working order, and produced 59,717 lbs of tractive effort @ 200 lbs boiler pressure. Engine and tender are 53’ 6 ½” long.

Purchased by MOT in 1956 from TRRA with a donaton from General Steel Castings Foundation

Engine is complete