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Big boy

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  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
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Posted by Penny Trains on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 7:37 PM

Well, I know the photo is in here:

Personally, I think it's the work of 2 people.  The first one drew on a big "V" (which I suspect had nothing to do with war victory but rather an industrial accomplishment).  Then the second person turned the right leg of the "V" into a "Y" and wrote the rest of it as "O-B _G-I-B" from right to left.

Or maybe the second guy turned the first guy's "Y" into a "V".  Who knows.

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

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Posted by Firelock76 on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 7:25 PM

54light15

And why Pacific? Or Atlantic? Mogul? Mikado? I understand Decapod, but those? 

 

From what I've read, "Atlantic"  for a 4-4-2 type comes from the Atlantic Coast Line, the first to use the type.  "Pacific"  originates with a sale of that type to a railroad in New Zealand, it had to cross the Pacific to get there.   "Mikado" for the 2-8-2 types from the fact the first ones made were made for the Japanese railroads. 

Mogul?  You got me on that one.  Aside from the rulers of the old Mogul Empire in India (also called Mughals) I've got no idea how it was applied to a 2-6-0.

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Posted by kgbw49 on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 7:25 PM

Per information at www.steamlocomotive.com, the first designed-from-the-start as a 4-4-2 locomotive was built by Baldwin in 1894 for the Atlantic Coast Line, hence the moniker "Atlantic".

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/locobase.php?country=USA&wheel=4-4-2

As to "Pacific", the first purpose-built units were built for New Zealand Railways by Baldwin in 1901, and in 1902 Missouri Pacific purchased the first 4-6-2 built for use in the United States from ALCO.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/misc/wheels.php

 

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Posted by SD70Dude on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 6:01 PM

54light15

Mikado?

IIRC one of the first large batches was built for export to Japan.

The name was changed to "MacArthur" during WWII.

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by 54light15 on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 5:26 PM

And why Pacific? Or Atlantic? Mogul? Mikado? I understand Decapod, but those? 

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Posted by SD70Dude on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 3:37 PM

Paul of Covington
54light15
Yeah, what exactly is being "consolidated?"

   According to "A History Of the American Locomotive--It's Development:1830-1880" by John H. White, Jr., the locomotive was first ordered by the Lehigh & Mahanoy Railroad, and while the locomotive was being built, they consolidated with the Lehigh Valley Railroad.   The locomotive was named in honor of this consolidation.

Mystery solved!

Now if I could just figure out where they got the "Ten Wheeler" name from I'd be set!

Greetings from Alberta

-an Articulate Malcontent

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Posted by Paul of Covington on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 2:48 PM

54light15
Yeah, what exactly is being "consolidated?"

   According to "A History Of the American Locomotive--It's Development:1830-1880" by John H. White, Jr., the locomotive was first ordered by the Lehigh & Mahanoy Railroad, and while the locomotive was being built, they consolidated with the Lehigh Valley Railroad.   The locomotive was named in honor of this consolidation.

_____________ 

  "A stranger's just a friend you ain't met yet." --- Dave Gardner

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Posted by 54light15 on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 12:11 PM

Yeah, what exactly is being "consolidated?" For that matter, what is meant by Manchester "United?"  What is exactly does that mean? Not to get off track here. 

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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 7:10 AM

The stories behind the names of various steam locomotive types are fascinating, going at least as far back as "Consolidation" for a 2-8-0.

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 switch7frg on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 8:41 PM

SurpriseI saw that photo of that 1st. Big Boy. That fellow with the chalk looked like he was gonna  grab some cookies from a jar.  I haved looked  for that photo for some time. Any hint of what issue of trains that the Photo is in.

Y6bs evergreen in my mind

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Posted by Firelock76 on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 5:23 PM

From what I've read and heard the "Big Boys" were indeed supposed to be called "Wasatch" types after the mountain range they were meant to cover.

But that unknown ALCO worker with the chalk beat everyone to the punch!

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Big boy
Posted by big bird on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 5:17 PM

Hi

We all know the story of the guy who wrote Big Boy with a chalk on the front of the first loco when it was ready to get out of the shop in Schenectady .

But what was the original name of the loco when they ordered it ??

I heard Wasatch ( excuse me I am not sure of the spelling ) because the monsters were supoosed to work that area .

Thanks for your help !!!

Louis

 

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