Some people think that this is a bad thread so I have deided to just screw it and close the d*** thing
The N&W Class A seems an odd choice. Not even close to the largest. At least the Big Boy is in the ballpark in a few areas. [:D]
Jeff
What do you mean by biggest? Tallest? Widest? Heaviest? With tender? Without?
In terms of heaviest, the winner is the C&O H-8 in the category of locomotive without tender.
If the tender is thrown in, then it’s Big Boy.
In terms of maximum drawbar horsepower, it’s the C&O H-8.
In terms of raw starting tractive effort, I think the Virginian AE 2-10-10-2’s would win.
In terms of most train tonnage regularly entrained behind locomotive DM&IR M-3 and M-4 2-8-8-4’s.
Highest horsepower to weight ratio: South African Railways class 26 4-8-4 (“Red Devil”).
Andre
I take the biggest to mean largest in size, physical measurements, if you will. Isn’t the Allegheney bigger than the Big Boy in that respect? I don’t really know. None of them beat a Shay for coolness, though. Just thought I’d throw that in.
The C&O Allegheney beats the Big Boy in wieght and DBHP. I don’t know if the Big Boy’s longer, but wieght and HP should trump length
Not really a contest between your two choices. The Big Boy wins on all counts. Always a discussion worthy topic. But, hard to beat that N&W Power.
http://www.steamlocomotive.com/misc/largest.html
Correct me if I’m wrong… but! There was a post on this a year or so ago where the Russians had something or other that far exceeded anything we had on this side of the pond.
Fergie
Well, usually when someone mentions the “Biggest Steam Locomotive,” length from drawbar to drawbar is a major factor.
If this is the case, then I would go with the Pennsylvania S1 6-4-4-6 duplex locomotive. From drawbar to drawbar, it was approximately some 141 feet long. The Big Boy was only 132 feet and 10 inches.
The Big Boy would comfortably fit inside an Allegheny Boiler. Considering the Alegheny only was set for 260 lbs boiler pressure versus the Big Boys’s 300 lbs boiler pressure the Allegheny had plenty of room to grow which would have allowed greater tractive effort and drawbar horsepower.
Rick
To curve the arguement, let’s just all agree that all the locomotives discussed here (while some may be larger than others) were BIG, and leave it at that.
Oh no, not this!! These topics seem to degenerate very quickly.
Don’t they just! Best to sit on the side lines and watch the impending battle. Though do “they” realize this has been fought before?
Classic Trains Steam Glory has all the stats and between the A-1, Allegheny and Big Boy it’s a very close race. Each loco had it’s strong points and weak points.
Fergie
In terms of Tractive Effort (not horsepower) the Big Boy had close to 140,000 TE as opposed to the A-1’s approximately 115,000 TE, but there are a lot of other factors to consider as to type of service, grades, etc. Let’s just say that both were extremely successful in the type of service required of them.
As to the other major contender–the Baldwin-built Missabe M-3/4 2-8-8-4, it was a big, powerful (142,000 lb. TE) get-down-and-dirty tonnage hauler that when it wasn’t hauling huge ore trains in Minnesota, was borrowed by the Rio Grande for two winters during WWII and amazed Rocky Mountain engineers by the amount of tonnage it could haul up the 2% between Denver and Moffat Tunnel. Many Rio Grande engineers called it the sweetest running loco they’d ever fired.
Tom
I agree that the biggest steamers were built for the regions they worked. UP needed some speed but power to get over Sherman Hill. As far as wheel arrangement goes, 4-8-8-4 is the largest aside from Garrets going 4-8-4+4-8-4, but thats under the main boiler frame. We forget however the 2-8-8-8-4 Virginian that outclassed anything, but couldn’t keep the boiler steamed.
I tend to agree to the fact the 2-6-6-6 and N&W Y6b plus DM&IR 2-8-8-4’s are among the best brute strength lokies out there. N&W class A is slightly longer than the Y6b but not built for the heavy grades the the Y’s were needed for.
I just wanted to see some others opinions, then people think I am trying to start a big flaming post. I am going to close it.
Man, it wasn’t about you personally. Some people just lose grip on the fact that this is a hobby and supposed to be fun. I have seen people get into arguments over some pretty petty carp. Sorry to offend. I enjoy all the subjects and enjoy the forum as a whole but some things just go to far. Oh well, back to trains, and thanks for your posts. [:)]
For crap sake! Why the hell can’t yall ever play nice?
It’s the way people are, we are all just naturally jerks. If something presses our buttons (God we have a lot!) we will respond in an amplification, and things get out of hand.
It’s all online, we cannot see who we are talking about, it’s not personal, not real, we don’t have feeling here, people are faceless, what are you going to do? Have a little fun. Boost your ego by insulting people.
I understand, its just I have seen things like this happen before and I did’nt want to be the one to start it. I did’nt want to hurt anyone’s feelings, I just thought I should get rid of it beofre it got to out of hand.
Well, I think it was a good idea. The poll options were just a little…off…good job. I would hate to have seen this turn into a huge flame war.