View source for Erie L-1

{{Short description|Class of American steam locomotive}}
{{Infobox locomotive
|name             = Erie L-1 class
|powertype        = Steam
|image            = Erie L-1 2601.jpg
|caption          = L-1 #2601 at [[Port Jervis, New York]], June 1911.
|builder          = [[American Locomotive Company]] 
|builddate        = 1907
|totalproduction  = 3
|whytetype        = {{whyte|0-8-8-0}}
|uicclass         = D′D n4v
|gauge            = {{track gauge|ussg}}
|driverdiameter   = {{convert|51|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|fuelcap          = {{convert|16|short ton|LT t|1}}
|watercap         = {{convert|8500|usgal|abbr=on}}
|boilerpressure   = {{convert|215|psi|MPa|abbr=on}}
|hpcylindersize   = {{convert|25|x|28|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
|lpcylindersize   = {{convert|28|x|28|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} 
|valvegear        = 
|valvetype        = {{ubl|''High pressure:'' Piston valves|''Low pressure:'' Slide valves}}
|tractiveeffort   = 
|operator         = [[Erie Railroad]]
|operatorclass    = L-1
|fleetnumbers     = 2600–2602
|retiredate       = 1930
|disposition       = All scrapped
}}

The three '''L-1''' {{whyte|0-8-8-0}} [[mallet locomotive|Mallet]] [[steam locomotive]]s of the [[Erie Railroad]], built in July 1907 by [[American Locomotive Company|ALCO]], and numbered 2600, 2601 and 2602 (ALCo construction numbers 42269, 42270 and 42271 respectively); were unique in that they were the only [[articulated locomotive|articulated]] [[camelback locomotive]]s ever built as well as being the first 0-8-8-0 type locomotives ever built. 

When built in 1907, they were the largest steam locomotives in the world, weighing {{convert|410,000|lb|ton}}. The L-1 Class was also called the "Angus" Type in homage to Angus Sinclair (which the 0-8-8-0 type is named), who was the publisher of Railway & Locomotive Engineering, a leading trade journal. A rarely seen photograph of #2602 shows his name under the windows on the cab sides.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

The use of an intercepting valve allowed the locomotive to be used in simple or single expansion steam capacity. This meant that if desired, high pressure steam could be supplied to the front and rear cylinder groups for additional power at the cost of exhausting the boiler of steam pressure quicker. 

These locomotives were built as [[bank engine|pushers]] for the [[Grade (slope)|heavy grades]] of the Erie Railroads' Susquehanna Division over Gulf Summit on the Pennsylvania and New York State border; and these locomotives primarily operated between Port Jervis, NY, and Susquehanna, PA.

==Two doors, one fireman==
The L-1s were fired by one fireman.<ref>American Engineer and Railroad Journal, June 1908; Dynamometer Car Testing and Results</ref> Most camelback locomotives have large [[Wootten firebox]]es that burn [[anthracite]] coal. Anthracite, is harder and slower burning than bituminous coal, so a larger grate area is needed to achieve the same amount of heating. 

[[File:2600dualdoorwoottenfirebox.jpg|thumb]]

==Baldwin Locomotive Works rebuild==
In 1921 the locomotives were sent out by Erie to be rebuilt by [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]], as {{whyte|2-8-8-2}}s with more conventionally rear located cabs, Standard DuPont Type B automatic mechanical stokers, Schmidt Type A superheaters, and Elasco feedwater heaters to make them more efficient.{{cn|date=May 2024}} The valves on the front cylinders were changed from slide valves to piston valves. 

The L-1's were retired in December 1930 and subsequently scrapped.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book| title=Erie Power| first=Alvin| last=Staufer}}{{full|date=August 2016}}

==External links==
*[http://www.trainweb.org/milepost51/eriel1.html#L-1 Erie Railroad L1 Class 0-8-8-0 locomotives, photos, postcards, models & memorabilia]

[[Category:Erie Railroad locomotives|L-1]]
[[Category:ALCO locomotives]]
[[Category:0-8-8-0 locomotives]]
[[Category:Mallet locomotives]]
[[Category:Steam locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Railway locomotives introduced in 1907]]
[[Category:Scrapped locomotives]]
[[Category:Standard-gauge locomotives of the United States]]
[[Category:Freight locomotives]]