Great Northern L Mallet

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Anyone know if this engine was ever produced in HO commercially?

Check the L series for a picture and write up. There were 67 engines produced in 1906/07. The engines were converted into 2-8-2 Class O engines in the 1920’s.

http://www.steamlocomotive.info/brochure.html

I thought that I had run across this engine a number of years ago at a train/hobby show. Not sure if it was brass or plastic.

2

Both the GN L-1 and L-2 classes were produced in brass. They are somewhat scarce today and therefore command premium prices-$2500 and up. By the way, the L-2s were rebuilt to the O-5 class while the L-1s were rebuilt to the O-6 class of Mikados. I do not believe that any class L was ever produced in plastic-though there are legions of GN fans that wish they could be-perhaps by Broadway Limited.

3

Thanks for the information. I was sure that I had seen these engines and was not confusing these with the Sumpter Valley series that were also produced.

I assume that the L engines produced for Great Northern were the first articulates made for the major railroads?

In checking their year built there appears nothing like them 1906 untill 1910 when the GN M classes were produced…

4

Erroneous assumption. Honors go to the B&O, which put a compound Mallet (0-6-6-0 number 2400) into service as a Sand Patch Grade pusher in 1904. The L class might have been on the erection floor in 1906, but “Old Maude” was scattering cinders on the right-of-way.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

5

tokikawa, thanks for the info. I forgot about “Old Maude”

I was of the impression that this engine was more or less an experimental engine debuting at the worlds fair and that while the B&O did build more articulates it was a number of years later. Old Maude was a first but more or less a flop.

Hence, the Great Northen L series being the first (more or less) to run production models of significant numbers - not one of’s like the B&O’s engine.

I guess my first post should have stated that I was of the opinon that the Great Northern L series were the first real “production model” articulates by a US major railroad. There were 67 engines of this type built.

6

GN’s class L-1s were conceptually based on the B&O loco. GN upgraded the type by adding lead and trailing trucks. This helped with tracking issues the GN had on the tight curves they had in the Rockies and Cascade Mountains. Another major difference is the GN’s selection of the Belpaire type of firebox for both the L-1s and L-2s. L-2s are much smaller and lighter than the L-1s. The GN originally intended the L-2s to run as road engines with L-1s as helpers. This plan didn’t last long. The L-2s were rendered obsolete very quickly upon the arrival on the property of the O-1 class Mikados, which outdid them handily in both speed and tractive effort.

7

GN-Rick

Thanks very much for the information. Years ago I saw a number of picture of various Great Northern locomotives. The pictures were taken in the Kootenays of what appeared to be one of the L series 2-6-6-2. I forgot that for a while that GN was actually running into Brithish Columbia.

I so wish now I had arranged for a copy of that picture. I was told that this line was the Spokane to Nelson and Grand Forks line. This was of course during the fierce competition between the Great Northern and CPR and the Kettle Valley line for dominance in the BC SouthEastern portion of the province.