Broken loco driver spokes

[NW Mailing List]

     I can't remember where I read this, but an incident in the late
1940's with a K2 locomotive in passenger service prompted the change
from spoke lead truck wheels to solid wheels. A broken wheel derailed
the lead truck, but not the locomotive.

     Referring to the K2's, page 151 of Colonel Jeffries book states
"Beginning in 1949, rolled steel wheels replaced the spoked engine
truck wheels."
     In the chapter on the J class, page 246, he states "In 1948 the spoke
engine truck wheels were replaced by solid steel wheels." Although
Prince's book has a photo of 607 in 1950 with spoke lead truck wheels
p.179). I believe the photo's date is correct because 607 is coupled
to a P-1 Powhatan Arrow coach/crew car.

--Rick Morrison