Question on C&O 2-6-6-2 H5

[Anonymous]

What was a typical load for a C&O 2-6-6-2 H5?
Someone told me they pulled coal hoppers. Did they pull anything else?

[twhite]

As I understand it, the 2-6-6-2 was used for coal hauling on the C&O branches during the latter part of the steam era. But remember, the C&O had a myriad of 2-6-6-2's during the steam era, and many of them pre-date the 2-8-8-2 and 2-6-6-6 articulateds, so I would imagine that they pulled everything from coal drags to manifest freights before they were displaced by heavier power. Even though the C&O only had about 20 or so USRA 2-6-6-2's, the USRA's were very close to the other C&O 2-6-6-2 specifications. It's a matter of development. If you're planning on putting a 2-6-6-2 at the head end of a drag freight, go ahead. Rio Grande used their pre-USRA 2-6-6-2's as passenger power on the old grade of Soldier Summit before replacing them with 4-8-2's in the 1920's. As a friend of mine from my LHS told me when I was pondering a USRA 2-10-2 for other than coal service, "Go ahead, it's YOUR railroad, put anything you want behind it!"

[Fergmiester]

According to Chesapeake & Ohio in Color Vol. 1 by J.F. Plant and W.G. McClure. C&O had it's original 45 2-6-6-2's built in the 20's and the last in the late 40's. These were used for branchline coal where steep grades and sharp curves were the norm. These machines were not designed for speed!

I'm contemplating getting one of these for branchline service on my layout as I have two branchlines with 5 and 8% grades and 18" radius curves.