Both CNR and CPR used Pacifics in freight service, as well as on passenger trains. Ian Wilson's books on CNR branchlines in southern Ontario in the '50s show quite a few examples of this. While some of these locos had 69" drivers, many were also eqipped with 72" or 73" drivers, and all were rated at between 34,000 and 40,000 lbs. tractive effort: not particularly large engines, but capable on a suitably-sized train, and, for the most part, light enough for many branch lines.
Wayne
When I was a youngster living in the San Fernando Valley I knew some of the SP crews. One day the local was headed by a 4-4-2 Atlantic, the drivers were huge. It was some climb up to the cab. Those were the days.
Somewhere I read that SP rated A-3 4-4-2's at 2400 tons in freight service in the San Joaquin Valley. Don't have the book handy, but there is a picture of an A-6 (#3000, I think) being used as a rear end helper on a freight train in Lucius Beebe's The Central Pacific & the Southern Pacific Railroads
Andre
On a railfan trip, with my dad, from L.A. to Bakersfield and back the train was headed up by two black 4-8-4's dressed with skyline casings, 4423 & 4444 and twenty plus heavy wieght passenger cars trailing behind. On the return trip the train stalled on Tehachapi near Caliente, blocking the mainline. Eventually an ABBA set of Santa Fe Frieght F units came to the recsue. All six locomotives dug in, smoke and machinery sounds reverated through out the mountain canyons as we climbed up to Tehachapi. 4444 became my favorte loco and saw it many times after that heading up the Over Night and refer blocks.
After that I came to believe unusual was usual on the SP, Rob
Toward the end of steam, locomotives were being retired on the basis of needing any but the most superficial repairs - sort of, "If we have to pay labor, we fix - if we have to buy parts not on hand, we scrap. That frequently meant that the workhorse 2-8-2 with expired flues would be on its way to the torch, while a lightly-used 4-6-2 would be standing on the ready track waiting for an assignment.
If the Pacific could move the train, it would be sent out with the branch freight.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
All,
I was wondering if it was common for railroads to assign strange combinations of power to the branchlines at the end of the steam era. I remember reading an article written by Andy Sperandeo on the San Jacinto District Layout(?) that mentioned that a 1226(?) Class 4-6-2 would not be out of place in the late 40's. Any other interesting observations or corrections on this? I am looking for some interesting power options on the end of steam era for a branchline. I hope this makes sense as i am typing on the fly...
Thanks,
NC