The recent development and deployment of high horsepower, high adhesion diesel-electric locomotives represent the culmination of efforts to build a more powerful, efficient and reliable form of motive power. Midway in that technological journey 100 years ago, railroads built larger steam locomotives that featured too many wheels and not enough steaming capacity to make the monsters perform satisfactorily.
One Erie Railroad experiment of 1914 is often recalled as a representative of that practice. A monster for its day, the 2-8 + 8-0 + 0-8-2 (under tender) wheel arrangement was adventurous but the locomotive lacked a firebox of sufficient size to maintain steam. The locomotives’ intended use was to push trains up the commanding Gulf Summit Grade but the locomotives ran out of steam and had to stop half-way up the climb to take on more water to build up steam. The first locomotive #2603 was named in honor of its designer Matt H. Shay and after prolonged use, it was returned to builder Baldwin Locomotive Works for modifications. The locomotive was returned renumbered #5014 but the name was dropped and the Erie went on and purchased two additional locomotives (#5015 and #5016) of the same wheel arrangement that incorporated the later performance modifications. Advancing articulated Mallet designs of the 1920s that offered greater efficiency and changing speed demands within the railroad industry put the three triplex locomotives out of work by 1934.
Virginian also succumbed to the concept of a triplex locomotive. Baldwin Locomotive Works delivered locomotive #700 to the Virginian in 1916. It had a 2-8 + 8-0 + 0-8-4-wheel differing from the Erie triplex locomotives. Rated at 160,000 lbs. tractive effort, the steaming capacity was compromised by the relatively small grate are of 108 sq. ft. and thus, the locomotive was equally unsuccessful. The railroad returned #700 to Baldwin and the builder rebuilt the locomotive into a 2-8 +8-0 locomotive number #610. In 1942 the Virginian rebuilt the locomotive once more, concerting it to a 2-8 + 8-2-wheel arrangement. For those interested in articulated locomotives, Mallets and the history an application of such locomotives – including the wheel arrangement designations used here – check out the two-volume series titled Articulated Steam Locomotives of North America by Robert A. Le Massena.
Articulated Mallet locomotives have a wide following and are popular subjects for model manufactures. Oddly, the first Mallet in the US, Baltimore & Ohio #2400, has never been produced for mass distribution. The locomotive featured a 0-6 + 6-0-wheel arrangement and was extremely well-proportioned and displayed a somewhat modern look that defied its 1904 birth date. That modern look was further enhanced when the locomotive was equipped with a centered electric headlight around 1917. No matter what railroad, MTS will offer the latest articulated designs as fast as they are released. Please review our listings for the models of that design – and other modern, non-articulated steam power like the NKP Berkshire also pictured – that we now offer.
Frank Wrabel
modeltrainstuff.com