Can anyone out there tell me what railroads used 2-6-6-2s ?. Mainly what I’d really like to know is did the UP, SP, SF or any western roads have them ?.
Thanks in advance.
Tracklayer
None of the three western roads you listed used the 2-6-6-2’s. Some logging companies might have used logging versions of the 2-6-6-2’s, but they were not USRA engines if that is what you are asking.
Okay, so let me try my question another way. What railroads did have 2-6-6-2s ?.
Tracklayer
Tracklayer,
Back to the trusty “Guide to North American Steam Locomotives”:
Sante Fe had 5 classes of 2-6-6-2s totaling 65 engines.
SP had one class of 2-6-6-2 engines totaling 2 engines.
UP had no 2-6-6-2s, but had about 100 4-6-6-4s.
WP had one class of 2-6-6-2s totaling 10 engines.
D&RGW had two classes of 2-6-6-2s totaling 10 engines, and one class of 16 2-6-6-0s.
NP had two classes for a total of 22 engines.
Bangert1 is right about some of the logging roads having 2-6-6-2, both in standard and narrow gauge.
There were 57 USRA 2-6-6-2s, but I believe that they were all sent to eastern roads. According to “the book”, these engines were not considered sucessful due to their being good pullers, but not having a lot of speed.
I still haven’t dug into the info on PFE reefers. Been helping my “Darling Gray-haired Mommy” move. [:(][:(][:(]
The USRA 2-6-6-2’s were built mainly for Eastern coal-haulers, most notably the Chesapeake and Ohio.
SP had one series of 2-6-6-2 which was acquired second-hand from the Verde Tunnel and Smelter Railway during WWII. They were compound mallets.
WP’s 2-6-6-2’s were built by ALCO and though not exactly USRA, were built to USRA specifications. Again, these were also compound mallets.
Rio Grande’s original 2-6-6-2’s pre-date the USRA types, though later, they bought several USRA-inspired 2-6-6-2’s second-hand from the Norfolk and Western during WWII for mine use in Utah. These were also compound mallets.
All classes of Santa Fe mallet compounds pre-date the USRA design by several years. Santa Fe’s mallet experiments were largely done away with by the 1920’s, and they relied on non-articulated steam power until WWII, when they bought several compound 2-8-8-2’s from the Norfolk and Western for use on Raton Pass as helpers.
Tom
I thought he was referring to the USRA version that is available in HO and N scale, and none of the western roads received the USRA 2-6-6-2 engines.
The SF 2-6-6-2’s were very old engine not used in the modern era.
I believe only 30 USRA original 2-6-6-2’s were made and the C&O got twenty and the W&LE ( later Nickle Plate got ten)
bangert1,
You are right, the subject line would have given that away had I been a little more awake!! Moved to many boxes this weekend. [B)][B)][B)]
Oh well, my USRA engines will run on SP and UP lines that never had them anyway.
Thank you bangert1. I was indeed referring to USRA period engines. And thank you Billba for the info you gave.
Now I’m wondering if I can make the Spectrum 2-6-6-2 I recently bought into a prototypically correct Western Pacific, Southern Pacific or Denver & Rio Grand ?..
Tracklayer
A lot of logging companies used them but not the S.P. as far as I no?
my 2cents worth
JIM