2-8-0? |
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In the Whyte notation, a 2-8-0 is a railroad steam locomotive that has a single-axle leading truck followed by four powered driving axles. This wheel arrangement is commonly called a Consolidation.
The equivalent UIC classification is 1'D.
History
Of all the locomotive types that were created and experimented with in the early part of the 19th century, the 2-8-0 was a relative latecomer. The 2-6-0, often considered the logical forerunner to the 2-8-0, was first created in the early 1860s.
The first locomotive of this wheel arrangement was likely built by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR), but like the first 2-6-0s, this first 2-8-0 had a leading axle that was rigidly attached to the locomotive's frame. To create this 2-8-0, the PRR's master mechanic John P. Laird modified an existing 0-8-0, the Bedford between 1864 and 1865.
The locomotive Consolidation, built in 1865 is widely considered the first true 2-8-0 built in the United States. It is this locomotive that is the origin of the class name.
Only a few railroads purchased this locomotive type upon its introduction by Baldwin. Even the Baltimore & Ohio, which had nearly 180 of this locomotive type in regular service by 1885, didn't purchase any of this type until 1873.
The 2-8-0 design was given a major boost in 1875 when the PRR made it the railroad's standard freight locomotive. 1875 was also the year that the Erie Railroad began replacing its 4-4-0s in freight service with 2-8-0s. The railroads found that the 2-8-0 could move trains twice as heavy for half the cost of their earlier brethren. From a financial standpoint, the choice of freight locomotives was clear.
See also
- USATC S160 Class - A class of 2-8-0 built by American manufacturers for use in Europe during World War II
References
- Kinert, Reed (1962) Early American steam locomotives; 1st seven decades: 1830-1900, Superior Publishing Company, Seattle, WA.
- White, John H., Jr. (1968) A history of the American locomotive; its development: 1830-1880, Dover Publications, New York, NY. ISBN 0-486-23818-0
| Steam locomotive types |
| Single engine types |
| 0-2-2, 2-2-0, 2-2-2, 2-2-4, 4-2-0, 4-2-2, 4-2-4, 6-2-0 |
| 0-4-0, 0-4-2, 0-4-4, 2-4-0, 2-4-2, 2-4-4, 4-4-0, 4-4-2, 4-4-4 |
| 0-6-0, 0-6-2, 0-6-4, 2-6-0, 2-6-2, 2-6-4, 4-6-0, 4-6-2, 4-6-4 |
| 0-8-0, 0-8-2, 2-8-0, 2-8-2, 2-8-4, 4-8-0, 4-8-2, 4-8-4, 6-8-6 |
| 0-10-0, 0-10-2, 2-10-0, 2-10-2, 2-10-4, 4-10-0, 4-10-2 |
| 0-12-0, 2-12-0, 2-12-2, 2-12-4, 4-12-2 |
| 4-14-4 |
| Duplex engine types |
| 4-4-4-4, 6-4-4-6, 4-4-6-4, 4-6-4-4 |
| Mallet (articulated) types |
| 0-4-4-0, 0-4-4-2, 2-4-4-2 |
| 0-6-6-0, 2-6-6-0, 2-6-6-2, 2-6-6-4, 2-6-6-6, 4-6-6-4 |
| 2-6-8-0 |
| 0-8-8-0, 2-8-8-0, 2-8-8-2, 2-8-8-4, 4-8-8-2, 4-8-8-4 |
| 2-10-10-2, 2-8-8-8-2, 2-8-8-8-4 |