In order to answer that, we’re going to need a little lesson on the history of steam locomotives! Steam locomotives are classified by their wheel configurations using a system called “Whyte Notation”. On steam locomotives the wheels that are driven by the steam engine are appropriately called drivers. Locomotives may also have sets of non-powered pilot wheels in front of and/or behind the drivers. For example, in Whyte Notation, 2-8-4 means that the locomotive has two pilot wheels in front of eight driving wheels, followed by four more pilot wheels.
Of all the locomotive types that were created and experimented with in the early part of the 19th century, the 2-8-0 was a relative latecomer. The first locomotive with this 2-8-0 wheel arrangement was likely built by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) between 1864 and 1865. The name given to the new locomotive was “Consolidation”. Total US production of the class totaled more than 33,000 locomotives, of which 12,000 export versions went to the rest of the world.
The 2-8-0 design was “the” heavy freight locomotive, from its inception in 1866, into the early twentieth century. The 2-8-0’s forte was starting and moving impressive loads, and its versatility gave the class its longevity. The 2-8-0 design was given a major boost in 1875 when the PRR made it the railroad’s standard freight locomotive. 1875 was also the year that the Erie Railroad began replacing its 4-4-0s in freight service with 2-8-0s.
The 2-8-0 design was a significant technological leap from the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement. The Consolidation, with its two extra driving axles and front pilot truck could not only pull trains that were twice as heavy but also run at speeds fast enough to be used in any type of passenger service. The railroads found that the 2-8-0 could move trains for half the cost of their earlier brethren. From a financial standpoint, the choice of freight locomotives was clear.
As reference to McKella280, we are a “consolidation” of two hard-working, versatile companies. Thus, the 2-8-0 after McKella!
