Banner
Navigation
loco-info.com
The reference for locomotives and railcars
Navigation
Explore
Search
Compare
Settings
Tender Locomotives 4-8-0 “Twelve-wheeler”
UIC Classification 2'D
go back
The “Mastodon” of the Central Pacific gave this wheel arrangement its popular name.
The “Mastodon” of the Central Pacific gave this wheel arrangement its popular name.

The wheel arrangement 4-8-0 stands for a locomotive with a leading, two-axle bogie and four driven axles. The following designations exist in the different naming systems:

Twelve-wheeler/Mastodon

UIC: 2'D

Whyte: 4-8-0

Switzerland: 4/6

France: 240

Turkey: 46

The 4-8-0 can be viewed as a 2-8-0 “Consolidation” where the leading axle has been exchanged for a two-axle bogie or truck. Another comparison would be to compare it to a 4-6-0 “Ten-wheeler” that received an additional driving axle. In both cases, this allowed to mount a bigger boiler, increasing overall power. Thanks to the two-axle leading truck, running characteristics were better at speed. However, the majority of American 4-8-0 locomotives was built as freight locomotives in a time when four driving axles were still sufficient.

The first known locomotive of this wheel arrangement was the “Centipede” built in 1855 by Ross Winans for the Baltimore & Ohio. Designed as a cab forward and later rebuilt into a camel, it remained the only 4-8-0 locomotive for the time being. The first successful 4-8-0 designs emerged in the early 1880s, where the “Mastodon” of the Central Pacific gave this wheel arrangement its popular name in the USA. Additionally, it was called “Twelve-wheeler” in the same manner as the 4-4-0 was called “Eight-wheeler” and the 4-6-0 still carries “Ten-wheeler” as its commonly used name.

In the USA, the 4-8-0 gained medium popularity in the following decades, usually in freight service. Some designs used the second axle in the truck only for better guidance and kept the load on the complete truck below ten percent of the locomotive's weight. This resulted in a better ratio for the adhesive weight, similar to a 2-8-0 and better than the later 2-8-2. For multiple times, a new class of 4-8-0 locomotives was the heaviest freight locomotive in the world. The most successful series were the Norfolk & Western classes M, M1 and M2 with 286 locomotives built. Outside of the USA, the Mexican State Railways were a customer of American 4-8-0 locomotives, although their number was small. But these classes PR-7 and PR-8 had large drivers and were the heaviest locomotives of this wheel arrangement.

The country with the largest number of 4-8-0 locomotives was probably Spain with a total of nearly 800. In France, the PLM started to build 282 locomotives of this wheel arrangement in 1907. Later Chapelon rebuilt a total of 37 Pacifics of the PO into 4-8-0 locomotives, while considerably increasing their power beyond 4,000 hp. In Hungary, MÁVAG built more than 500 of the class 424 for the MÁV and other countries. In Austria, the Südbahn and the BBÖ built 4-8-0 express locomotives as classes 570 and 113. Together with the Polish Os24 that was based on these locomotives, the total number was 102. The Soviet Union built 100 of the class M, although this was not really successful.

The South Australian Railways ordered a total of 78 of the class T. Queensland Railways had more than 400 locomotives of the classes C16 to C19 which had an axle load of only around ten tons. Also the classes B, BA and BB in New Zealand were in the same weight class. More light 4-8-0 locomotives were used in South Africa and other countries on the continent.

With the increasing speed of trains around the turn of the century it had become evident that most 4-8-0 locomotives had a narrow firebox that limited their power at speed. To mount a wide firebox, the boiler had to be raised to allow for enough space above the driving wheels. So several types of locomotives with a trailing axle took over. These were most notably the 2-8-2 “Mikado” and the 4-8-2 “Mountain”. While the 2-8-2 had the same number of axles and took over trains in the medium speed range, the 4-8-2 still had sufficient guidance at high speeds, but added a trailing axle for a wide firebox and a bigger boiler overall. Furthermore, rising axle loads allowed to build a 4-6-2 “Pacific” with the same adhesive weight, but more power.

The class M belonged to a successful series of the Norfolk & Western.
The class M belonged to a successful series of the Norfolk & Western.
The Queensland Railways class C16 was a light 4-8-0 with an axle load of less than ten tons.
The Queensland Railways class C16 was a light 4-8-0 with an axle load of less than ten tons.
collection Donald Chisholm-Smith
Chapelon rebuilt Pacifics of the PO to 4-8-0 with more than 4,000 hp.
Chapelon rebuilt Pacifics of the PO to 4-8-0 with more than 4,000 hp.
Austrian Federal Railways (BBÖ) class 113
German Reichsbahn class 331 and Yugoslav Railway class 10
go back
Austria | 1923
40 produced
Image of locomotive
Die Lokomotive, January 1927

From 1923, the BBÖ had 40 locomotives with a 4-8-0 wheel arrangement and a low axle load built to operate the heavier express trains on the Westbahn. Borrowings were taken from the two prototypes of the class 570, which had been built in 1915 for the Südbahn. Despite the lack of a trailing axle and the maximum speed of only 85 km/h, they had a large grate and a high tractive effort, which allowed them to be used with heavy trains, even in mountainous areas. The Polish PKP had Fablok build 60 very similar locomotives as Os24. The Austrian locomotives came to the Reichsbahn in 1938 as class 331 and later kept the same numbers in the ÖBB. The last disappeared in 1968. Five locomotives had come to Yugoslavia after World War II, where they were designated as class 10. So far there is only a short text for this vehicle. In the future it will be described in more detail.

General
Built1923-1928
ManufacturerStEG, Floridsdorf
Wheel arr.4-8-0 (Twelve-wheeler) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length67 ft 10 7/8 in
Wheelbase31 ft 3 9/16 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft 1 11/16 in
Total wheelbase56 ft 6 13/16 in
Service weight187,834 lbs
Adhesive weight130,954 lbs
Total weight284,396 lbs
Axle load32,739 lbs
Water capacity7,133 us gal
Fuel capacity15,432 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area48.1 sq ft
Firebox area173.3 sq ft
Tube heating area2,012.8 sq ft
Evaporative heating area2,186.1 sq ft
Superheater area748.1 sq ft
Total heating area2,934.2 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter68.5 in
Boiler pressure218 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 22 1/16 x 28 3/8 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power1,743 hp (1,300 kW)
Top speed62 mph
Starting effort37,201 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
express
last changed: 08/2023
Cape Government Railways class 7 (1896)
South African class 7A
go back
South Africa | 1896
46 produced
7A No. 1007 in September 1997 in Voorbaai
7A No. 1007 in September 1997 in Voorbaai
Ian Roberts

The second type of Class 7 4-8-0 locomotives procured by the Cape Government Railways was built from 1896 for the central and eastern regions. They all came from British manufacturers and 45 were delivered by 1898, while a single one came from Dübs in 1901.

These locomotives were a development of the 1891 model and again were designed by Beatty. Compared to their predecessors, they had a larger boiler and a larger tender. Only the first driving axle had no wheel flanges. In the 1930s, many were rebuilt with a superheater and piston valves.

The Sudanese military received eight identical locomotives in 1897 and 1898 and used them in the Mahdist War. They were also called “Dongola class”. They had been given water pipes to the front so that an additional tender could be coupled there for use in the desert.

Of the GCR's locomotives, all but two, which had previously been sold, were taken over by the SAR in 1912. During the First World War, some were used in the conquest of German South West Africa. Due to their suitability in this region, more were later relocated there. After replacing them with more modern steam locomotives and diesel locomotives, the SAR retired the last class 7A locomotives in 1972.

Variantas builtsuperheated
General
Built1896-1898, 1901
ManufacturerSharp, Stewart & Co., Dübs & Co., Neilson & Co.
Wheel arr.4-8-0 (Twelve-wheeler) 
Gauge3 ft 6 in (Cape gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length53 ft 5 1/4 in
Wheelbase21 ft 3 1/2 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft
Total wheelbase46 ft 2 in
Service weight104,160 lbs109,988 lbs
Adhesive weight80,192 lbs84,679 lbs
Total weight180,544 lbs186,379 lbs
Axle load20,160 lbs21,729 lbs
Water capacity3,122 us gal
Fuel capacity12,320 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area17.5 sq ft18 sq ft
Firebox area102 sq ft113 sq ft
Tube heating area976 sq ft806 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,078 sq ft919 sq ft
Superheater area206 sq ft
Total heating area1,078 sq ft1,125 sq ft
Variantas builtsuperheated
Power Plant
Driver diameter42.8 in
Boiler pressure160 psi180 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 17 x 23 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power500 hp (373 kW)700 hp (522 kW)
Starting effort21,146 lbf23,789 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
H.M. Beatty
last changed: 01/2024
Central Pacific “Mastodon” and class GE
Southern Pacific class TW-4
go back
United States | 1882
21 produced
Drawing of the locomotive in its original condition by Richard Ward
Drawing of the locomotive in its original condition by Richard Ward

Although the Baltimore and Ohio had procured a locomotive with a 4-8-0 wheel arrangement in 1855 with the “Centipede”, the Central Pacific “Mastodon” was one of the first successful locomotives with this wheel arrangement. Completed in 1882, it was the heaviest locomotive in the world at the time. Shortly after its roll-out, test runs were undertaken in the Sierra Nevada with the locomotive number 229, during which, as expected, it performed significantly better than the existing Americans and Ten-Wheelers. When the operation was taken over by the Southern Pacific, it was renumbered 2925.

The shape of the boiler had some special features, including a firebox with a lower ceiling in the area of the driver's cab, which was around 13 feet long. The cylinders each had four slide valves, two of which were operated by one set of valve gear each. This type of cylinders was also inherited by “El Gobernator”, the even larger locomotive with a 4-10-0 wheel arrangement.

Built by the Central Pacific workshops, number 229 was later sent to the Cooke Locomotive and Machine Works in New Jersey to set up series production. Depending on the source, 20 or 25 other machines were made, which had slightly larger cylinders. The first locomotive was later modernized and converted to oil firing, which probably also applies to the production locomotives. They were scrapped in June 1935.

VariantNo. 229GE
General
Built18821882-1883
ManufacturerCentral PacificCooke
Wheel arr.4-8-0 (Twelve-wheeler) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase24 ft 11 1/2 in23 ft 10 in
Rigid wheelbase15 ft 9 in13 ft 9 in
Total wheelbase53 ft 2 in47 ft 10 in
Service weight123,000 lbs144,100 lbs
Adhesive weight106,050 lbs114,000 lbs
Total weight186,000 lbs
Water capacity2,500 us gal
Fuel capacity10,700 lbs (wood)wood
Boiler
Grate area25.8 sq ft29.7 sq ft
Firebox area182 sq ft155 sq ft
Tube heating area1,173 sq ft1,883 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,355 sq ft2,038 sq ft
Total heating area1,355 sq ft2,038 sq ft
VariantNo. 229GE
Power Plant
Driver diameter54 in56 in
Boiler pressure135 psi160 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 19 x 30 intwo, 20 x 30 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power600 hp (447 kW)750 hp (559 kW)
Starting effort23,014 lbf29,143 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
last changed: 03/2022
Ferrocarriles Nacionales classes PR-7 and PR-8
go back
Mexico | 1924
6 produced
PR-8 No. 3002
PR-8 No. 3002
Carl Weber

Unusual for a North-American 4-8-0, the NdeM ordered their classes PR-7 and PR-8 mainly for passenger service. A thought behind this may have been that a Twelve-wheeler had more adhesive weight than a similarly sized Pacific. Their driver diameter of 67 inches or 1,702 mm was larger than that of any US 4-8-0 and matched that of the fast European locomotives of this wheel arrangement.

Baldwin built a single PR-7 in 1924 that was numbered 5-A and later renumbered to 2856. It had the same boiler as the KR-1 Mikados and the MR-6 Pacifics, but this was mounted higher in the PR-7 to make space for the wide firebox above the last set of drivers. Nevertheless, the top of the drivers protruded into the firebox. This was possible since this oil burner did not need a continuous ash pan. In contrast to its sisters with the same boiler, it had an Elesco feed water heater. The cylinders had square dimensions with a bore and stroke of 28 inches each.

Baldwin delivered five more in 1935 which had a larger boiler. These were called class PR-8 and numbered 3000 to 3004. The main increase in the firebox heating surface could be attributed to the thermic syphons. With a service weight of 288,000 pounds or 130.5 tonnes, they were the heaviest 4-8-0 locomotives ever. The dimensions of the cylinders and drivers had not been changed and also the boiler pressure remained unchanged. The PR-7 was retired in 1962 and the last PR-8 was gone in the following year.

VariantPR-7PR-8
General
Built19241935
ManufacturerBaldwin
Wheel arr.4-8-0 (Twelve-wheeler) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase30 ft 10 in
Rigid wheelbase18 ft
Total wheelbase67 ft 4 1/2 in
Service weight276,950 lbs288,000 lbs
Adhesive weight223,000 lbs230,000 lbs
Total weight446,150 lbs457,200 lbs
Axle load55,750 lbs57,500 lbs
Water capacity8,500 us gal
Fuel capacity3,500 lbs (oil)
Boiler
Grate area66.6 sq ft66.7 sq ft
Firebox area228 sq ft299 sq ft
Tube heating area3,303 sq ft3,575 sq ft
Evaporative heating area3,531 sq ft3,874 sq ft
Superheater area828 sq ft1,028 sq ft
Total heating area4,359 sq ft4,902 sq ft
VariantPR-7PR-8
Power Plant
Driver diameter67 in
Boiler pressure200 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 28 x 28 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Indicated power2,500 hp (1,864 kW)
Estimated power3,200 hp (2,386 kW)
Starting effort55,699 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
passenger
freight
last changed: 02/2026
French State Railway 240 P
go back
France | 1940
25 produced
Image of locomotive

In 1940 and 1941 André Chapelon rebuilt 25 Pacifics of the PO 4501 to 4600 series into 4-8-0 locomotives of considerably more power which became SNCF 240 P. They were a follow-up of twelve other locomotives of the same series which had been rebuilt in 1932 and 1933 which now became SNCF 240 A. The new series was to be even more powerful and used for very heavy passenger and freight services on the line between Paris and Lyon with gradients of one percent.

Innovations of these locomotives included a boiler pressure of 20 bars, a stoker, an ACFI feed water heater, a longer stroke on the low pressure cylinders and a double Kylchap exhaust. This resulted in a short-time output of around 4,700 hp and a continuous output of around 4,000 hp. On the outside, the 240 P could be distinguished from the 240 A by running boards above the driving wheels, larger smoke deflectors and a four-axle bogie tender.

Heavy passenger trains of 800 tonnes could be hauled at speeds above 100 km/h, what increased to 120 km/h with trains of 512 tonnes. In World War II, passenger trains grew to 28 cars or 1,100 tonnes, while these locomotives were also tasked to haul 2,000-tonne coal trains at 85 km/h. But the electrification of the Paris-Lyon line meant that their lives were fairly short, so the last ones were withdrawn in 1953.

General
Built1940-1941
ManufacturerTours
Wheel arr.4-8-0 (Twelve-wheeler) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length loco44 ft 7 1/4 in
Empty weight236,556 lbs
Service weight252,760 lbs
Adhesive weight177,251 lbs
Total weight434,861 lbs
Axle load44,313 lbs
Water capacity9,510 us gal
Fuel capacity19,842 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area40 sq ft
Evaporative heating area2,290.2 sq ft
Superheater area732.8 sq ft
Total heating area3,023 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter72.8 in
Boiler pressure290 psi
Expansion typecompound
Cylindersfour, HP: 17 5/16 x 25 9/16 in
and LP: 25 9/16 x 27 3/16 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power4,157 hp (3,100 kW)
Top speed75 mph
Starting effort36,320 lbf
with start valve43,584 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
express
passenger
De Glehn compound
André Chapelon
last changed: 11/2025
Hungarian State Railways class 424
Czechoslovak State Railways class 465.0, Yugoslav Railway class 11 and Soviet Railways series ТМ
go back
Hungary | 1924
514 produced
The winner of the 1952 "Locomotive Cleanliness Competition".
The winner of the 1952 "Locomotive Cleanliness Competition".
Fortepan / Erky-Nagy Tibor

The MÁV series 424 was a 4-8-0 mixed traffic locomotive that wasn't only a success in Hungary, but also in other countries. It was based on the Südbahn class 570 and also had a high boiler that had enough space for a large grate. With a driver diameter of 1,610 mm and a top speed of 85, later 90 km/h, it was also suited for the express trains in Hungary. Due to its good acceleration, it could reach high average speeds on lines with many stops. But it was also powerful enough for heavy passenger and freight trains. On an incline of 0.5 percent, it could reach 70 km/h with a train of 1,150 tonnes.

Although it had only been built by MÁVAG, the production spanned 34 years in total. In 1924, 26 had been built for the MÁV and only one followed in 1929. In World War II, the need for a powerful locomotive that can haul various military trains led to 216 more being built between 1940 and 1944. Production even continued after the war, so 122 more had followed by 1958. So in total 365 had been built for the MÁV, but when the last were built, many others had already been given to other countries. The MÁV modified some locomotives for example with Kylchap exhausts and only retired them between 1972 and 1986. Today, 424.009, 247 and 287 are operational with more being preserved in a non-operational state.

More had been directly delivered to other countries. Between 1942 and 1944, the Slovak SŽ had ordered 15 which became part of the ČSD after the war. Together with others they got from Hungary, the ČSD soon had 51 in their inventory and designated them class 465.0. The last ones were operated until 1973. In Yugoslavia, 13 former Hungarian locomotives were used as class 11 and three of them had been assigned to Tito's train. More had been built for China and North Korea, what brought the total number to 514.

General
Built1924, 1940-1958
ManufacturerMÁVAG
Wheel arr.4-8-0 (Twelve-wheeler) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase31 ft 2 in
Rigid wheelbase11 ft 9 3/4 in
Total wheelbase56 ft 10 11/16 in
Empty weight161,246 lbs
Service weight181,374 lbs
Adhesive weight124,561 lbs
Total weight308,360 lbs
Axle load31,306 lbs
Water capacity6,499 us gal
Fuel capacity19,842 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area48.2 sq ft
Firebox area186.2 sq ft
Tube heating area2,143.1 sq ft
Evaporative heating area2,329.3 sq ft
Superheater area599.5 sq ft
Total heating area2,928.9 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter63.4 in
Boiler pressure203 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 23 5/8 x 26 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Indicated power1,676 hp (1,250 kW)
Top speed56 mph
Starting effort39,489 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
passenger
express
last changed: 10/2024
Watch on YouTube
Madras & Southern Mahratta No. 500 to 503
go back
India | 1925
4 produced
Image of locomotive
flickr/Historical Railway Images

In 1925, the Madras & Southern Mahratta Railway got four 4-8-0 locomotives for their metre-gauge network which had been designed by Messrs. Rendel, Palmer & Tritton. They were built by W.G. Bagnall and got the numbers 500 to 503. Some visible features were the inclined cylinders, the Belpaire firebox and steam pipes which were partly external. Despite an axle load of only 8.7 tons, they had a good power to weight ratio. Also the tenders were relatively light, partly due to their rigid frame without the extra weight of bogiesSo far there is only a short text for this vehicle. In the future it will be described in more detail.

General
Built1925
ManufacturerW.G. Bagnall
Wheel arr.4-8-0 (Twelve-wheeler) 
Gauge3 ft 3 3/8 in (Meter gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length52 ft 4 15/16 in
Wheelbase20 ft 6 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft
Total wheelbase42 ft 2 3/4 in
Empty weight86,576 lbs
Service weight95,648 lbs
Adhesive weight77,280 lbs
Total weight161,056 lbs
Axle load18,704 lbs
Water capacity3,183 us gal
Fuel capacity10,080 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area16.6 sq ft
Firebox area124 sq ft
Tube heating area785 sq ft
Evaporative heating area909 sq ft
Superheater area150 sq ft
Total heating area1,059 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter43 in
Boiler pressure160 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 17 x 22 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power750 hp (559 kW)
Starting effort20,109 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
passenger
freight
last changed: 10/2024
Image of locomotive
Locomotive Magazine, July 1925
New Zealand Railways classes B, BA and BB
go back
New Zealand | 1899
50 produced
No. 619 in March 1915 at the Petone shops
No. 619 in March 1915 at the Petone shops
Albert Percy Godber / Godber Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library

The class B was a 4-8-0 freight locomotive designed for the main lines of the South Island. Starting in 1899, four were delivered by Sharp, Stewart & Co. and six more by the NZR Addington shops. They were capable of hauling 600 tons on fairly flat terrain. As early as 1903, three were rebuilt to the 4-6-4T class WE. Starting in the twenties, some got superheated boilers. Some of these even got more powerful superheated boilers with a wide firebox and a pressure raised from 170 to 200 psi

Between 1911 and 1913, the Addington shops delivered ten locomotives of the class BA. These had a superheater and a smaller firebox. Their haulage capacity was now 700 tons. They were now increasingly used on branch lines and often also hauled passenger trains. Like some class B locomotives, they also got wide firebox boilers starting in 1928.

The largest class of the series was the BB that was built by A & G Price of New Zealand. 30 were completed between 1915 and 1918. While the others had been used on the South Island, the BB was mainly intended for freight and passenger trains on branch lines on the North Island. Their cylinder diameter had been increased by one inch and the firebox hand been enlarged on the cost of a smaller tube heating area. Without the introduction of the AB class Pacifics, it is possible that more would have been ordered.

In the thirties, eight BA and ten BB were modified for use as shunters. The withdrawals of all three classes took place in the sixties and had been completed in 1969. No. 552 is the only member of class BA that has been preserved. It is being owned by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust and has been operational, but currently is being overhauled. Also BB No. 144 is currently at the same trust's depot at Parnell and is awaiting its restoration.

VariantBBABB
General
Built1899-19031911-19131915-1918
ManufacturerAddington, Sharp, Stewart & Co.AddingtonA & G Price
Wheel arr.4-8-0 (Twelve-wheeler) 
Gauge3 ft 6 in (Cape gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length52 ft 1 1/2 in52 ft 3 in52 ft 7 1/2 in
Wheelbase23 ft22 ft 8 1/2 in22 ft 4 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft 6 in12 ft 4 in
Total wheelbase44 ft 10 in45 ft 2 1/2 in
Service weight96,096 lbs98,336 lbs97,440 lbs
Adhesive weight70,896 lbs72,352 lbs72,800 lbs
Total weight145,376 lbs155,456 lbs154,560 lbs
Axle load17,752 lbs18,088 lbs18,200 lbs
Water capacity2,042 us gal
Fuel capacity8,960 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area17.3 sq ft16.7 sq ft16.8 sq ft
Firebox area109 sq ft101 sq ft109 sq ft
Tube heating area939 sq ft687 sq ft615 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,048 sq ft788 sq ft724 sq ft
Superheater area206 sq ft208 sq ft
Total heating area1,048 sq ft994 sq ft932 sq ft
VariantBBABB
Power Plant
Driver diameter42.5 in42.6 in42.5 in
Boiler pressure175 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 16 x 22 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power575 hp (429 kW)750 hp (559 kW)725 hp (541 kW)
Top speed30 mph40 mph
Starting effort19,712 lbf19,666 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
passenger
freight
tank locomotive
secondary line
last changed: 10/2024
Watch on YouTube
Norfolk & Western classes M and M1
go back
United States | 1906
225 produced
Class M No. 450 in a Baldwin factory photo
Class M No. 450 in a Baldwin factory photo

In order to be able to accommodate a longer boiler on the Consolidation, the Norfolk & Western chose the 4-8-0 “Twelve-wheeler” wheel arrangement instead of the Mikado. The aim was to achieve a higher adhesive weight because the weight of the firebox was placed on the rear driving axles. Even the firebox was extended to the rear of the cab so that the engineer and fireman were separated from each other. These locomotives were nicknamed “Mollies” by the crews.

After 125 class M locomotives, 100 more class M1 locomotives were built. They only differed in the valve gear and the valves. Due to design errors, the M1 was subject to high levels of wear and tear, so it was retired relatively early. The M was replaced on main lines by the 2-8-8-2 class Y and was used on secondary lines and in switching service until the late 1950s. Only ten had received a superheater. The number 475 is still in use on the Strasburg Railroad today and the 433 also survives.

VariantMM1
General
Built1906-19071907
ManufacturerALCO, Baldwin, N&W Roanoke Shops
Wheel arr.4-8-0 (Twelve-wheeler) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase24 ft 5 in
Rigid wheelbase15 ft 6 in
Total wheelbase58 ft 4 1/2 in53 ft 7 in
Service weight206,200 lbs204,500 lbs
Adhesive weight169,800 lbs165,850 lbs
Total weight373,700 lbs321,100 lbs
Axle load42,450 lbs41,463 lbs
Water capacity9,000 us gal6,000 us gal
Fuel capacity28,000 lbs (coal)20,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area45 sq ft
Firebox area173 sq ft
Tube heating area2,624 sq ft
Evaporative heating area2,797 sq ft
Total heating area2,797 sq ft
VariantMM1
Power Plant
Driver diameter56 in
Boiler pressure200 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 21 x 30 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power1,400 hp (1,044 kW)
Starting effort40,162 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
last changed: 11/2023
Norwegian State Railways type 26
go back
Norway | 1910
22 produced
Works photo of the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works
Works photo of the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works
SBB Historic

The Bergensbane, or Bergen Railway, connects Oslo with Bergen and, despite a large number of tunnels, has challenging gradients, so that the express trains at the beginning of the century had to rely on pilot locomotives. For this reason, the NSB launched an invitation to tender for a powerful express train locomotive that should be able to cover this route without double-heading. The route has a constant gradient of 2 to 2.1 percent over a length of 70 km, which culminates at an altitude of 1301.7 meters at Lake Taugevatn and has curve radii of 180 meters. However, the tracks required a maximum axle load of twelve tonnes, while a locomotive with four cylinders was specified to further reduce the loads on the rails.

The winner of this tender was the locomotive later designated as the type 26, which was designed by the Schweizerische Lokomotivfabrik in Winterthur. The required power was achieved with four coupled axles and a leading bogie. Thanks to the boiler being placed very high, it was possible to accommodate a wide firebox without a trailing axle. The locomotives were able to haul trains weighing 200 tonnes at 35 km/h on the aforementioned incline.

The three locomotives delivered by SLM in 1910 were designated type 26a and were, however, somewhat lighter than expected. In order to be able to fully utilize the available axle load, two more units were ordered from Thune in Oslo, which were a bit heavier and were designated type 26b. The largest sub-series with 17 units was the type 26c, which was designed as a compound machine due to the high steam consumption of the four cylinders. It was supplied by several manufacturers between 1919 and 1924.

As early as 1915, the type 26 locomotives were withdrawn from the Bergen Railway, as the latter had been converted for a higher axle load and the heavier type 31 locomotives were now being used there. Thanks to the small coupling wheels, they were suitable for all types of trains and were therefore used in different parts of Norway in different roles. Rebuilds took the form of an oil-fired engine in the 1950s and the fitting of an engine with a larger boiler in 1961. The locos survived until 1969, when the last year of steam service in Norway had struck. Two pieces were kept in reserve in 1970 in case diesel locomotives failed.

Variant26a26b26c
General
Built191019111919-1924
ManufacturerSLMThunesMotala Verkstad, NoHAB, Norsk Maskin Industri, SLM, Hamar Jernstøberi
Wheel arr.4-8-0 (Twelve-wheeler) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Length58 ft 6 3/4 in58 ft 8 15/16 in
Wheelbase27 ft 8 11/16 in
Rigid wheelbase11 ft 1 7/8 in
Total wheelbase49 ft 8 7/16 in
Empty weight123,459 lbs126,766 lbs137,127 lbs
Service weight139,288 lbs144,182 lbs153,882 lbs
Adhesive weight104,234 lbs104,719 lbs107,145 lbs
Total weight219,536 lbs224,430 lbs234,131 lbs
Axle load26,544 lbs
Water capacity3,963 us gal
Fuel capacity8,818 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area29.1 sq ft32.3 sq ft
Firebox area109.8 sq ft108.7 sq ft
Tube heating area1,496.2 sq ft1,358.9 sq ft
Evaporative heating area1,606 sq ft1,467.7 sq ft
Superheater area406.9 sq ft407.4 sq ft
Total heating area2,012.8 sq ft1,875.1 sq ft
Variant26a26b26c
Power Plant
Driver diameter52.4 in53.2 in
Boiler pressure174 psi188 psi
Expansion typesimplecompound
Cylindersfour, 14 15/16 x 23 5/8 infour, HP: 15 3/8 x 23 5/8 in
and LP: 23 x 23 5/8 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power972 hp (725 kW)1,073 hp (800 kW)
Top speed43 mph
Starting effort29,869 lbf29,426 lbf23,244 lbf
with start valve27,893 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
express
passenger
freight
Von Borries compound
last changed: 03/2022
Schematic drawing
Schematic drawing
Locomotive Magazine, August 1917
Showing 1 to 10 of 17
Search
loadding loading...

We use cookies to save the following settings:

  • selected navigation structure
  • selected language
  • preferred units
  • spelling of railway company names

If you refuse the use of cookies, the settings will only be retained for the current session and will be reset to the default values the next time you visit the site.

Display of units

Here you can set the desired unit system for the technical data.

  • Metric: Lengths in meters, weights in tonnes, and volumes in cubic meters
  • Imperial (UK): Lengths in feet/inches, weights in long tons and volumes in imperial gallons
  • Imperial (US): Lengths in feet/inches, weights in pounds, and volumes in US gallons
  • Individual: Depends on the country of origin of each locomotive
Operator names

Here you can set the display of railway company names.

  • Short: Abbreviation or short form of the name
  • Standard: commonly used name, partially translated to English
  • Complete: full name in local language