Steam Locomotive Classification

[Acela026]

I was curious as to how steam locomotives were classified (EG, 4-4-0=American type,etc.)  Would anyone be able to give me a link (or chart) on this? Thanks!

Acela026

[CAZEPHYR]

 

 The web site below has the WHYTE classifications for steam in general.  The names that certain engines were called came by different means.  The 4-4-0 was the most common American engine in the mid 1850's on for many years and the name become common.

The Northern 4-8-4 was first built for the Northern Pacific road and that name became common except for several roads that named their 4-8-4's for their own areas.  The 2-8-4 was named for the Berkshire mountains area where the locomotive was first used.  In general, you can look at most of the wheel arrangements and get an idea of the reason they were named.  The 2-10-2 was built for the Santa Fe first, but the IC called their 2-10-2's Centrals.  Some railroads wanted to use their own names.

I hope this helps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whyte_notation

 

 

http://www.southerncalifornialivesteamers.com/SCLS_WHYTE_classification.asp

 

[daveklepper]

The White system counts wheels:  4-4-0, four wheeled leading truck, four drivers coupled with side rods, no trailing truck.   4-8-8-4  (Big Boy) four wheeled leading truck, two sets of drivers independent, and a four wheeled trailing truck.

 

The Europeans do it differently, with the first example, the American, being 2-2-0. and the Bib Boy a 2-4-4-2.   They count axles, not wheels.

 

Internaitonally, electrics and diesel-electrics use a different system and count axles, letters for powered axles and numbers for non-powered axles.    P5: 2-c-2      GG-1  2-c-c-2   F-7 b-b.  E-7, E-8, a.1.a-a.1.a.   SD-7, SD-9  c-c.   Baldwin Centepeed:  2-e-2.  Pennsy B-1 switcher: "c"  DD-1 2-b-0-0-b-2.   But that doesn't stop USA fans from calling a GG-1 a 4-6-6-4.

[AltonFan]

daveklepper

Internaitonally, electrics and diesel-electrics use a different system and count axles, letters for powered axles and numbers for non-powered axles.    P5: 2-c-2      GG-1  2-c-c-2   F-7 b-b.  E-7, E-8, a.1.a-a.1.a.   SD-7, SD-9  c-c.   Baldwin Centepeed:  2-e-2.  Pennsy B-1 switcher: "c"  DD-1 2-b-0-0-b-2.   But that doesn't stop USA fans from calling a GG-1 a 4-6-6-4.

 

But it is not unknown for European writers to apply this system to steam locomotives.

But for what it's worth modern diesel-electric manufacturers will refer to a B-B diesel on the engine's builder's place as an 0-4-0+0-4-0.

[daveklepper]

Seen both on builders plastes

[richhotrain]

I have been at this for 7 years now and have accumulated a nice stable of steam engines.  But, for the life of me, I still cannot match the names with the wheel configurations for the most part.  I can name some but certainly not all.  When it comes to articulated, forget it.

[daveklepper]

This kind of thing has been posted several times before:

2-4-0        Columbia

2-6-0        Mogul

 2-6-2       Prarie

2-8-0        Consolidation

2-8-2        Mikado   (MacArthur)

2-8-4        Birkshire    (Kiwanna, C&O)

2-10-0      Decopad

2-10-2      Sante Fe

2-10-4      Texas

4-2-0        Planet (British, only)

4-4-0        American

4-4-2        Atlantic

4-4-4        Jubalee    (CP only?)

4-6-0        Ten Wheeler

4-6-2        Pacific

4-6-4        Hudson (also Baltic)

4-8-0        Mastodon, Norfolk and Western type

4-8-2        Mountain   (Mowhawk on the NYC)

4-8-4        Northern    also C&O Greenbriar, DL&W Pocono

4-10-0      Southern Pacific Type

4-12-0      Union Pacific Type

Any articulated locomotive that uses steam twice is a Mallet, from 0-6-6-0 to 2-8-8-4

If it doesn't use steam twice than it is a simple articulated, but

2-6-6-6     Allegainy

4-6-6-4     Challenger

4-8-8-4     Big Boy (only UP)

2-8-8-4     Yellowstone

all are names for simple articulateds

0-4-0 to 0-10-0  were all just switchers.

[AltonFan]

daveklepper

2-10-2      Sante Fe

IC called these "Centrals", SP called them "Two-Ten-Two".

4-8-0        Mastodon, Norfolk and Western type

Usually these were called "Twelve Wheelers".  I never heard of them being called "Norfolk and Western".

4-8-4        Northern    also C&O Greenbriar, DL&W Pocono

Also called "Dixies" on some Southern lines, "Governors, Generals, and Presidents" on RF&P, "Four-Eight-Fours" on UP, "Niagara" on NYC, and "Niagra" on NdeM.  Called "GS" on SP, indicating either "Golden State" or "General Service".

4-10-0      Southern Pacific Type

No.  The only 4-10-0 was an SP engine named "Mastodon".  4-10-2 type was called "Southern Pacific" on SP, but "Overland" on UP.

4-12-0      Union Pacific Type

Wheel arrangement should be 4-12-2.

Southern Pacific referred to some of their articulateds as "Articulated Consolidations" (sets of eight  drive wheels) and "Articulated Prairies" (sets of six).

[AgentKid]

daveklepper

2-10-4      Texas

Selkirk on CP

Bruce