Under the Whyte notation, a 2-8-4 is a steam locomotive that has two unpowered leading wheels, followed by eight coupled and powered driving wheels, and four trailing wheels. This locomotive type is most often referred to as a Berkshire, though the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway used the name Kanawha for their 2-8-4s.

A 2-8-8-4 steam locomotive, under the Whyte notation, has two leading wheels, two sets of eight driving wheels, and a four-wheel trailing truck. The type was generally named the Yellowstone, a name given it by the first owner, the Northern Pacific …

Twenty of the "Berkshire" type locomotives exist today: 2 from the Pere Marquette, 6 from the Nickel Plate Road and 12 of the C & O's 2-8-4 locomotives, which they called "Kanawhas".

Mar 1, 2025 · As pioneers of the "Super Power" designs, the 2-8-4s enjoyed widespread acclaim and versatility across various railroads. Employed primarily in standard freight service, they showcased their adaptability by performing a plethora of …

The quintessential NKP steam locomotive.

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, a 2-8-8-8-4 has two leading wheels, three sets of eight driving wheels, and four trailing wheels.

Jun 29, 2006 · The AMC 2-8-4 was an extremely well balanced engine with a powerful boiler and ample cylinders, all mounted on a frame sporting 69-inch drivers. The resulting engine, with its 64,100 lbs. of tractive force, was a fast freighter, but one that could also get on its knees and lug.

This table compares the various Yellowstone designs along with that of the UP Big Boy and Western Pacific 2-8-8-2. All Yellowstone classes employed simple steam expansion and thus none can be called "mallets".

Sep 28, 2024 · Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-8-8-4 #235 (M-4), manufactured by Baldwin in 1941, is resplendent in the setting sun of June 11, 1959. The big Yellowstone is about to depart Virginia, Minnesota with a heavy ore train bound for the ore docks along Lake Superior.

Built by Baldwin in 1942 and 1944 and by Lima in 1949, these engines were the epitome of the North American fast freight locomotive at the end of the steam era. One long-time engineer noted that the "Big Emmas" could handle passenger and freight service and that they were very quiet because of the extensive use of roller bearings.