1. Absolute Safety in inflammable localities, and from boiler explosion, as pressure decreases constantly. 2. Simplicity. Nothing to watch but signals and gauge. 3. Economy. In first cost; in maintenance; in operation.
Just the locomotive for use around your plant. Absolutely no danger from fire; can be operated around factories manufacturing the most inflammable materials with perfect safety. We build all practical sizes. Write for further particulars.
The fireless “locos” were undeniably safe, in that steam pressure was always on the decrease and never ran wild. On the other hand, the brakes were so primitive that fast emergency stops were impossible with a string of heavy coal cars. Visibility from the cab was limited, too—an added hazard with increased auto and pedestrian traffic in the NCR factory area in recent years.
But the retirement of the Rubicon, the Dayton, and the South Park was irrevocably decided by the mounting cost of keeping them in repair. Replacement wheels had to be specially cast, and many other parts had to be fashioned from scratch. Toward the end of the engines’ service, two machinists were devoting full time to pampering their aches and agues, and the maintenance bill was coming to more than $16,000 annually. Railroad buffs will miss them, but they had to go!
The NCR engine house had just been completed when employees clustered around the Dayton for this photograph.
One of the first engine crews poses by the Rubicon.
The Diesel-electric locomotive which replaced them is a 50-ton eight-wheel unit manufactured by the General Electric Company at Erie, Pa. It is powered by two 150-horsepower engines, each driving a D.C. generator. In turn, each of the generators powers a D.C. motor geared to an axle. A powered axle drives two wheels directly, and by side arms two other wheels are also driven. Thus, the locomotive is powered by two independent units. The power units can be used separately or simultaneously as the number of cars demands, giving traction to either four or eight wheels.
