4-8-2 "Mountain" Locomotives in the USA
On the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad, as the number of cars grew on its passenger trains, it became necessary to doublehead "Pacifics" to get these longer trains over the Allegheny Mountains. In 1910, the C&O turned to the American Locomotive Company for a more powerful locomotive.
The engineers at ALCO made a study of the road conditions and other requirements. From this study they recommended a locomotive with eight drivers, like the "Mikado", for traction to which they would add a four-wheel lead truck, like the "Pacific", for speed and riding stability. The result was a new wheel arrangement, the 4-8-2.
The C&O agreed and in 1911, became the first North American railroad to take delivery of a locomotive with the 4-8-2 wheel arrangement. This locomotive was numbered 316 but was later renumbered 540. The C&O named this new type of locomotive "Mountain" because it was developed to haul passenger trains over the Allegheny Mountains.
The "Mountain" 4-8-2 was a fast dual-service locomotive that was bought by many railroads in need of more motive power for the ever increasing weight of passenger trains and to compete for fast freight.
In North America 41 railroads bought or built 2,204 "Mountain" Locomotives. The New York Central and the Pennsylvania Railroad used a combined total of 901 or 41% of the total. The first one built was C&O number 316, in 1911, and the last one built was B&O number 5594, in 1948.
The 4-8-2 was the locomotive that demonstrated the value of combining eight coupled high drivers with the speed potential of the leading four wheel truck. Had the engineers, in 1911, recognized the serious limitation of the two trailing wheels and had allowed more weight by adding a trailing four wheel truck then the ultimate dual-service locomotive would have been developed 16 years earlier than the 1927 introduction of the "Northern".
Information for this introduction to Mountains provided by Richard Duley.
Builders of 4-8-2 "Mountain" Type Locomotives (by Richard Duley)
| Railroad Line | Quantity, Builder |
|---|---|
| Alaska Railroad | 2 Baldwin |
| Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe | 51 Baldwin |
| Baltimore & Ohio | 2 Baldwin 42 B&O |
| Bangor & Aroostook | 10 ALCO |
| Boston & Maine | 18 Baldwin |
| Canadian National Railway | 42 CLC 32 MLW |
| Canadan Pacific Railway | 2 CPR |
| Central Vermont | 4 ALCO |
| Central of Georgia | 27 ALCO 5 Baldwin |
| Chesapeake & Ohio | 8 ALCO 2 Baldwin |
| Chicago, Burlington & Quincy | 13 BLW 8 Lima |
| Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific | 62 ALCO |
| Delaware, Lackawanna & Western | 45 ALCO |
| Denver & Rio Grande Western | 30 ALCO 10 Baldwin |
| Florida East Coast | 90 ALCO |
| Grand Trunk Western | 5 Baldwin |
| Great Northern | 28 Baldwin 15 LIMA |
| Illinois Central | 35 ALCO 25 LIMA 76 IC |
| Lehigh & Hudson River | 3 Baldwin |
| Lehigh Valley | 6 ALCO |
| Louisville & Nashville | 22 Baldwin |
| Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Sainte Marie | 18 ALCO 3 Soo |
| Missouri Pacific | 33 ALCO |
| Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis | 5 ALCO 8 Baldwin |
| New Orleans Great Northern | 3 ALCO |
| New York Central | 435 ALCO 165 Lima |
| New York, New Haven & Hartford | 70 ALCO |
| New York, Ontario & Western | 20 ALCO |
| Norfolk & Western | 10 ALCO 12 Baldwin 26 N&W |
| Pennsylvania | 225 Baldwin 50 LIMA 26 PRR |
| Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac | 4 ALCO |
| Rutland | 4 ALCO |
| St. Louis - San Francisco | 30 Baldwin 34 SLSF |
| Seaboard Air Line | 25 ALCO 36 Baldwin |
| Southern Pacific | 34 ALCO 49 SP |
| Southern | 58 Baldwin |
| Tennessee Central | 4 ALCO |
| Texas & Pacific | 5 ALCO 5 Baldwin |
| Union Pacific | 60 ALCO |
| Wabash | 25 Baldwin |
| Western Pacific | 10 ex FEC |
| Western Railway of Alabama | 2 ALCO |
Number of 4-8-2 "Mountain" Type Locomotives Built By Year (by Richard Duley)
| Year | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Railroad | 1911 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | Total |
| AGS | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alaska | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AT&SF | 2 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 51 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AB&C | none | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ACL | nonew | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B&O | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 44 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BAR | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B&M | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CN | 16 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 20 | 74 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CPR | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CentVermont | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CentralofGA | 3 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 32 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C&O | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CB&Q | 8 | 13 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CRI&P | 2 | 10 | 30 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 62 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CNO&TP | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CCC&StL | 50 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| DL&W | 5 | 5 | 20 | 15 | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| D&RGW | 10 | 20 | 10 | 40 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FEC | 15 | 19 | 23 | 33 | 90 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GTW | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GN | 15 | 28 | 43 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| IC | 15 | 25 | 20 | 1 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 136 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L&HR | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LV | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| L&N | 16 | 6 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MStP&SSM | 10 | 8 | 3 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MoPac | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NC&StL | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NdeM | nonew | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOGN | 3 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NYC | 30 | 16 | 139 | 1 | 99 | 125 | 25 | 40 | 10 | 27 | 34 | 4 | 550 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NYNH&H | 10 | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 70 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NYO&W | 4 | 6 | 10 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| N&W | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 48 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PRR | 1 | 200 | 100 | 301 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RF&P | 2 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rutland | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SL-SF | 15 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 64 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SLSW | nonew | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SAL | 10 | 5 | 10 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 71 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SP | 14 | 20 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 5 | 83 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Southern | 23 | 25 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TennCentral | 4 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T&P | 5 | 5 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UP | 40 | 15 | 5 | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wabash | 25 | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WP | nonew | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRwyofAla | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totals: | 2 | 1 | 9 | 27 | 30 | 59 | 154 | 61 | 70 | 19 | 76 | 211 | 108 | 130 | 474 | 42 | 28 | 214 | 182 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 20 | 55 | 36 | 46 | 54 | 34 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2211 | ||||
Railroads that used 4-8-2 "Mountain" Locomotives in the USA (data provided by Steve Llanso of Sweat House Media)
- Alaska Railroad
- Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
- Baltimore & Ohio
- Bangor & Aroostook
- Boston & Maine
- Central Vermont
- Central of Georgia
- Chesapeake & Ohio
- Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
- Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
- Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
- Denver & Rio Grande Western
- Florida East Coast
- Great Northern
- Illinois Central
- Lehigh & Hudson River
- Lehigh Valley
- Louisville & Nashville
- Minneapolis, St Paul & Sault Ste Marie
- Missouri Pacific
- Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis
- New York, New Haven & Hartford
- New Orleans Great Northern
- NYC: Big Four / New York Central
- New York, Ontario, & Western
- Norfolk & Western
- Pennsylvania
- Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac
- Rutland
- Seaboard Air Line
- Southern
- SP: El Paso & Southwestern / Southern Pacific
- St Louis Southwestern
- St Louis-San Francisco
- Tennessee Central
- Texas & Pacific
- Union Pacific
- United States Railroad Administration
- Wabash
- Western Railway of Alabama
Surviving Examples of 4-8-2 "Mountain" Locomotives in the USA
| No. | Class | F.M. Whyte | Gauge | Railroad Line | Location | Status | Builder Info | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1529 | 1500 | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | SLSF | Frisco Park, Amory, MS | display | Baldwin #59203, 05/1926 | |
| 2500 | 2500 | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | IC | Age of Steam Memorial, Fairview Park, Centralia, IL | display | IC, 1937 | Built from IC 2953 2-10-2 boiler (Lima). |
| 3042 | L-3b | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | NYC | National NYC Railroad Museum, Elkhart, IN | unknown | Alco (Schenectady), 1940 | Tender only. Placed on display behind NYC 3001. Used as an auxiliary water tender behind Reading 2101 for the American Freedom Train and the Chessie Steam Special, then damaged in a roundhouse fire in Russell, KY. |
| 3001 (909) | L-3a | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | NYC (T&P) | National NYC Railroad Museum, Elkhart, IN | display | Alco (Schenectady) #69338, 1940 | Displayed with PRR GG1 4882. Long term restoration candidate. |
| 1519 | 1500 | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | SLSF | Railroad Museum of NW OK, Enid, OK | display | Baldwin #58607, 1925 | |
| 928 | 4-8-2 | 12" | WF&P | Wabash, Frisco & Pacific Railroad, Glencoe, MO | operational | WF&P, 2006 | ||
| 1526 | 1500 | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | SLSF | Museum of the Great Plains, Lawton, OK | display | Baldwin #59200, 1926 | |
| 2542 | 2500 | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | IC | McComb Railroad Museum, McComb, MS | display | Paducah, 1951 | Moved from Edgewood Park on June 21, 2000. |
| 1527 | 1500 | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | SLSF | Langan Park, Mobile, AL | display | Baldwin #59201, 1926 | |
| 6659 | M1 | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | PRR | siding, North Collins, NY | stored | PRR | Tender only. To be used on the new PRR class T-1 5550. |
| 1501 | 1500 | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | SLSF | Schuman Park, Rolla, MO | display | Baldwin #56265, 1923 | |
| 6039 | U-1-c | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | GTW | Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton, PA | display | Baldwin #58463, 1925 | |
| 2933 | L-2d | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | NYC | Museum of Transportation, St. Louis, MO | display | Alco (Schenectady) #68126, 1929 | |
| 1522 | 1500 | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | SLSF | Museum of Transportation, St. Louis, MO | display | Baldwin #59134, 1926 | Restored to operation in 1988. Retired from excursion service in late September 2002 due to rising insurance costs. Placed on permanent display at the Museum of Transportation, though in serviceable condition. |
| 6755 | M1b | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | PRR | Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg, PA | display | PRR (Altoona) #4225, 1930 | Largest surviving PRR steam locomotive. |
| 2523 | P-2 | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | GN | Kandiyohi County Historic Park, Willmar, MN | display | Baldwin #57343, 1923 | |
| 2507 | P-2 | 4-8-2 | 4'-8½" | SP&S (GN) | Wishram Amtrak Station, Wishram, WA | display | Baldwin #57184, 1923 | From Port of Pasco, WA. Painted in 2002. |
Web Pages
Reference
- Guide to North American Steam Locomotives by George H. Drury (Kalmbach Publishing Co.)
- North American Steam Locomotives: The Mountains by Jack W. Farrell (Pacific Fast Mail)
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of North American Locomotives by Brian Hollingsworth (Smithmark Publishers)
- B & O Power: Steam, Diesel and Electric Power of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 1829 - 1964 by Lawrence W. Sagle (Alvin F. Staufer)
- C & O Power: Steam and Diesel Locomotives of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, 1900 - 1965 by Philip Shuster, Eugene L. Huddleston and Alvin Staufer (Alvin F. Staufer)
- Steam Power of the New York Central System: Vol 1, Modern Power, 1915 - 1955 by Alvin F. Staufer (Alvin F. Staufer)
- Pennsy Power: Steam and Electric Locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 1900 - 1957 by Alvin F. Staufer (Alvin F. Staufer)
- Steam over Scranton: The Locomotives of Steamtown by Gordon Chappell (U. S. Department of the Interior - NPS)
- New York Central Later Power by Alvin F. Staufer and Edward L. May (Alvin F. Staufer)
- B & O Power 1829 - 1964 by Lawrence W. Sagle and Alvin F. Staufer (Alvin F. Staufer)
- The American Steam Locomotive: Vol 1, The Evolution of the Steam Locomotive by F. M. Swengel (Midwest Rail Publications)
- The Search for Steam by Joe G. Collias (Heimburger House Publishing Co.)