Left: The Norfolk & Western steam-turbine-electric, built in 1954. It was numbered 2300 Although superficially similar to the Chesapeake and Ohio steam-turbine loco, it was of quite different design, being shorter and lighter, with a Babcock & Wilcox water-tube flash boiler working at 900 lb/sqin. GE traction motors were fitted to the four 3-axle bogies; all axles were powered so the wheel config was C-C-C-C. The 2300 only survived for only three years. Once again there were major difficulties with reliability. Coal dust contaminated the electrical equipment. The feedwater heater and semi-automatic boiler controls gave trouble, and the turbine blades suffered when the loco backed heavily onto a train. None of these problems appear to be insoluble, but the locomotive was mainly used as a "pusher" and was scrapped in 1958.

The locomotive carried the name "Jawn Henry", a reference to a legendary black construction worker who pitted his manual hammer and drill against a steam drill. According to the story, he just managed to beat it but collapsed and died shortly afterwards. Not a good omen, perhaps...

Above: General layout of Norfolk & Western steam-turbine-electric

The front part of the engine was composed of a forward electrical compartment and a 20-ton coal bunker. The boiler was placed after the driver's cab, then came the turbine and generator in the power compartment, and finally a rear electrical compartment. The tender carried 22,000 gallons of water but no coal.

Left: The front of the boiler, in the rear of the driving cab Cover removed for photography The naming of parts: S-205 - Steam Jet Control Valve S-206 - Master-Stoker Jets S-214 - Master-Cab Steam S-245 - By-Pass-Stoker Jets S-248 - Slicer Jet Steam S-613 - Auxiliary Steam Vent S-629 - By-Pass-Aux. Steam Reducing S-661 - Gauge Glass Shutoff - Top S-662 - Gauge Glass Shutoff - Bottom S-664 - Superheater Pressure Shutoff S-665 - Meter Shutoff (Line - AC-1001) S-666 - Meter Shutoff (Low - AC-1001) S-667 - Meter Shutoff (High - AC-1001) S-669 - Meter Shutoff (High - AC-1004) S-670 - Meter Shutoff (Low - AC-1004) S-673 - Gauge Glass Shutoff - Top S-674 - Gauge Glass Shutoff - Bottom S-678 - Water Column Blowdown S-679 - Gauge Glass Blowdown S-680 - Left Gauge Glass Blowdown S-683 - Boiler Drum Vent AC-1001 - Water Level Controller AC-1002 - Superheater Pressure Controller AC-1003 - Air-Fuel Ratio Controller AC-1004 - Superheater Flow Controller AV-1074 - Grate Drive Control Cock A - Boiler Front Gauge Panel B - Tender Tank Level Gauge C - Bell

Left: The turbine Very little is visible under all the lagging. THis and the associated internal pictures of the locomotive are taken from: 0PERATOR'S MANUAL NO. STE-1. 4500 HP Steam Turbine Electric Freight Locomotive with Dynamic Braking

Naming of parts for illustrations above and below: 1. Turbine 2. Turbine Stop Valve 3. Turbine Overspeed Trip Mechanism 4 Stop Valve Reset Mechanism (Flexible Shaft to Handwheel in Cab) 5. Manual Trip Valve 6. Turbine Stop Valve Servomotor 7. Main Oil Pump 8. High Oil pressure Relief Valve 9. Oil Filter 10. Oil Strainer 11. Governor 12. Speed Charger and Load Limit Control 13. Auxiliary Oil Pump Regulator

14. Blower 15. Boiler Blower Turbine 16. Double Exciter 17. Exciter and Auxiliary Generator 18. #1 Main Generator 19. #2 Main Generator 20. T. M. Blower Alternator 21. Gear Case and Oil Reservoir 22. Oil Filling Hole Cap 23. Oil Level Sight Gauge 24. Auxiliary Oil Pump 25. Turbine Trip Alarm Contactor 26. Low Oil Pressure Alarm Contactor 27. High Oil Temperature Alarm Contactor

Left: The turbine and generator

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