Virginian 900, prior to its refusal by the Virginian Railway. It (and VGN 901–904) became Norfolk and Western Railway 2000–2004, class Y-3.
(1922 Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
USRA 2-8-8-2 STEAM LOCOMOTIVE
The USRA 2-8-8-2 was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. These locomotives were of 2-8-8-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or (1'D)'D1' in UIC classification. A total of 106 locomotives were built to this plan for the USRA; postwar, it became a de facto standard design.
A diagram of the 2-8-8-2 Wheel Arrangement. Front of locomotive on left.
(Gwernol, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
History
While the 2-8-8-2 had been built in the United States since 1909, most development work had gone into making subsequent locomotives larger and heavier. The Norfolk and Western Railway however, had taken development in a different direction. By using smaller cylinders and higher boiler pressure, the result was a locomotive capable of powerful performance, and a turn of speed higher than the 20 mph (32 km/h) maximum of the ‘traditional’ designs.
The USRA 2-8-8-2 drew heavily on the Norfolk and Western Railway’s Y-2 class locomotive design, as their delegate to the 2-8-8-2 design committee had brought a full set of blueprints.
Original owners
USRA originals
| Railroad | Quantity | Class | Road Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore and Ohio Railroad | 26 | 7145–7170 | rebuilt to EL-5 class 2-8-8-0 | |
| Clinchfield Railroad | 10 | L-2 | 725–734 | |
| Norfolk and Western Railway | 45 | Y-3 | 2005–2049 | |
| Virginian Railway | 5 | — | 900–904 | Refused, to Norfolk & Western 2000–2004 |
| Virginian Railway | 20 | USA | 701–720 | |
| Total | 106 |
Copies
| Railroad | Quantity | Class | Road Numbers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinchfield Railroad | 10 | L-3 | 735–744 | |
| Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | 10 | L-107 | 3500–3509 | |
| Interstate Railway | 2 | Class 20 | 20-21 | |
| Norfolk and Western Railway | 30 | Y-3a | 2050–2079 | |
| Norfolk and Western Railway | 45 | Y-3b | 2080–2089 | Later re-classed as Y-4 |
| Northern Pacific Railway | 4 | Z-4 | 4500–4503 | |
| Virginian Railway | 15 | USB | 721–735 | |
| Total | 116 |
Survivor
Although no original USRA 2-8-8-2 survives, one of the copies does. Norfolk & Western 2050, a 1923 ALCO product of N&W's Y-3a class, is on display at the Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Illinois.
USRA 2-8-8-2 Overview
Type and origin
Power type: Steam
Builder: ALCO, Baldwin
Total produced: 106 originals, (plus 116 copies)
Specifications
Configuration:
• Whyte 2-8-8-2
• UIC (1′D)D1′ h4v
Gauge: 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver diameter: 57 in (1,448 mm)
Adhesive weight: 474,000 lb (215.0 t)
Locomotive weight: 531,000 lb (240.9 t)
Fuel type: Coal
Boiler pressure: 240 lbf/in2 (1.65 MPa)
Cylinders: Four, two LP (front), two HP (rear)
High-pressure cylinder: 23 in × 32 in (584 mm × 813 mm)
Low-pressure cylinder: 39 in × 32 in (991 mm × 813 mm)
Valve gear: Baker
Locomotive brake: Air
Train brakes: Air
Performance figures
Tractive effort: 101,300 lbf (450.6 kN)
Career
Disposition: One copy (N&W 2050) preserved, remainder scrapped