Yellowstones vs Big Boys

[Anonymous]

I saw in a magazine recently, a claim that Northern Pacific had Big boys (in additionto Union Pacific) And they even had a picture, that, by gosh, had "Northern Pacific" painted on the side of the tender. This was news to me.

Trying to research this, I run into the "Yellowstone" http://www.steamlocomotive.com/yellowstone/

And can't recall if the Loco in the photo was "2-8-8-4" "4-8-8-4"

Any of you guys who keep rosters know if NP ever had any real 4-8-8-4 "Big Boys"?

[Anonymous]

The NP never had Big Boys. Only UP.

[Anonymous]

The only North American railroad with the 4-8-8-4 type was the Union Pacific. UP referred to them as Big Boy. The 2-8-8-4 type was named Yellowstone type by its originator, the Northern Pacific (it follows the Yellowstone River). Other railroads that used this type were Southern Pacific (both cab-forward and normally oriented), Baltimore & Ohio, and Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range.

[Anonymous]

It never dawned on me that a Cab Forward was nothing more that a backwards Yellowstone. DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I must have had a blonde moment for the last 20 years.

[Anonymous]

Marty, I mislead you a bit, I apologize. You didn't have a blond moment. A true Yellowstone type uses the four-wheel trailing truck to support a large firebox. SP's first cab-forwards really needed the four-axle truck for better curve-following qualities because there was so much weight cantilevered past the driving wheels that now entered a curve first instead of last, as it normally would. Had these been normally oriented, the early designs would surely have been 2-8-8-2s.

[Anonymous]

Two of the Duluth, Misabe and Iron Range Yellowstones were preserved. One sits near their yard in Proctor Minn (just South of Duluth) and the other is in Duluth at the RR museum. The last time I was at the museum, they had the Yellowstone on a system of rollers so that when you pushed a button, the entire running gear turned like it was in operation. It was pretty interesting to see. That was several years ago, so I don't know if it still does that, but it was in nice cosmetic shape. Here is the museum link http://www.lsrm.org/ Here's the direct link to the Yellowstone http://www.lsrm.org/index_2.htm

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Mark W. Hemphill

The only North American railroad with the 4-8-8-4 type was the Union Pacific. UP referred to them as Big Boy. The 2-8-8-4 type was named Yellowstone type by its originator, the Northern Pacific (it follows the Yellowstone River). Other railroads that used this type were Southern Pacific (both cab-forward and normally oriented), Baltimore & Ohio, and Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range.

Thanks! Take a look at the issue of "Railfan" magazine, currently sitting on store shelves (it says "All Alco issue)

Inside is a picture that they label "Northern Pacific Big Boy", which as I mentioned earlier, just didn't seem right,...but hey, I learn things I never knew, every day [#dots]

On reading the link provided by, and verifying with you guys, I sure the engine must have been a Yellowstone, and railfan was either mistaken, of making the assertion "tongue in cheek"

Either way, just one more reason why I only thumb through "Rail Fan" at the news stand before picking up the issue of "Trains" to take home with me. [;)]

[foamer4000]

The Northern Pacific" Big Boys" in question were called Challengers. 4-6-6-4

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Regarding the cab-forwards, the earliest versions were built as 2-8-8-2's and did have the tracking problems mentioned above. There were also some cab-forwards built as 2-6-6-2's for dual-service that were rebuilt as 4-6-6-2's when they were rebuilt from compound to simple operation.