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B & O Big Sixes

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  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Michigan City, In.
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B & O Big Sixes
Posted by spikejones52002 on Monday, November 5, 2007 11:22 AM

I was just watching the B & O Big Sixes from the home page of trains.

Why are they called big SIXES when they all were 2-8-2s?

Thank You for the correction   I could not make out the 5 set of drivers. 2-10-2s not 2-8-2s.

  • Member since
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  • From: Northern VA
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Posted by feltonhill on Monday, November 5, 2007 12:42 PM
Their road numbers started with the number 6, e.g, 6100 for the first S1
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Posted by VAPEURCHAPELON on Monday, November 5, 2007 1:40 PM
These engines were 2-10-2s, not 2-8-2s, and they were - while not the very largest of that wheel arrangement - really BIG.
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Posted by GP40-2 on Monday, November 5, 2007 10:01 PM
As stated eariler, they were numbered in the 6000 series (hence "Sixes") and they were big. Built in the mid-1920's by both Baldwin and Lima for the B&O, they produced both high starting tractive effort and high horsepower at speed. Their boilers were similar in size to a Superpower 4-8-4. The Big Sixes could maintain 70MPH with a heavy frieght and produce 4000 DBHP. They were the biggest single reason why the B&O never bothered buying 4-8-4 in the 1940's, and they were so durable that they stayed in service until the late 1950's, with minimal maintenance.

Photo of Big Six 6124:

www.rr-fallenflags.org/bo/bo-s6124amm.jpg
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 10:21 AM
A high-speed 2-10-2?  It would be interesting to find out how engine crews and the M/W department felt about fast running with a Big Six.
The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by GP40-2 on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 9:03 PM
 CSSHEGEWISCH wrote:
A high-speed 2-10-2?  It would be interesting to find out how engine crews and the M/W department felt about fast running with a Big Six.


The Big Sixes were in service for almost 35 years and were a favorite of the crews. Why are you so suprised by the B&O using a Big Six on fast freight? They had well designed and well balanced running gear. No worse on the track than a 4-8-4. Heck, the B&O ran their enormous 2-8-8-4 EM1s even faster in express freight service.
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  • From: Akron,OH
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Posted by Kurn on Saturday, November 10, 2007 6:45 PM
They also excelled in pusher service.A couple of 'em could generally shove anything up Sandpatch.

If there are no dogs in heaven,then I want to go where they go.

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  • From: Ohio
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Posted by Virginian on Thursday, November 22, 2007 8:55 AM
There have been very few sights/experiences to match an EM-1 and a pair of Big Sixes fighting a heavy train over Sand Patch in a steam lover's eyes.  Near the end, the ballast was black and yellow from all the Kodak boxes.
What could have happened.... did.

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