did any of the railroads in the midwest have a “russian decapod 2-10-0” spectrum make one
thanks in advance
ray
Can’t give you an answer but can tell you that anything RR related is not inappropriate in a gerenal discussion forum.
The first Decapods were built for the Lehigh Valley Railroad in 1867; proving too rough on the track thanks to their long coupled wheelbase, one pair of drivers were removed. No more followed for 24 years, until the Erie Railroad bought six for pusher service between 1891 and 1893. In that low-speed service where high tractive effort was the most critical attribute, these Decapods were successful. Small numbers of other Decapods were built over the next twenty years, mostly for service in steeply graded mountainous areas where power at low speeds was the requirement. The type did not prove that popular, however, compared to the wildly successful Consolidation (2-8-0) type. Among the Decapods placed in service were a number for the Santa Fe, of interest mostly because they were tandem compounds.
The first great boost in the number of Decapods in service was thanks to historical events. Imperial Russia ordered approximately 1200 Decapods from American builders during World War I. When the Bolshevik revolution took place, over 800 had already been delivered, but more than 200 were either awaiting shipment or were in the process of construction. These stranded locomotives were adopted by the United States Railroad Administration (USRA), the body created by the Government to oversee and control the railroads during the War, converted to American standards, and put to use on American railroads. Small and light-footed, these Russian decapods proved popular with smaller railroads, and many of them remained in service long after the USRA’s control of the railroads ceased. Many indeed lasted until the end of steam on those railroads.
The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR), however, soon became the biggest user of the Decapod in the United States. The type was ideally suited to the Pennsy’s heavy graded Allegheny Mountains routes; power and lugging ability, not speed, was what was called for. The PRR bought 598 of the brutes, building 123 itself and then ordering
Hey, as long as it’s train related, this is the place…
The Illinois Central ran some of them. How many, I don’t know. I think the Missouri Pacific may also have used Russian Decapods.
St. Louis-San Francisco (Frisco) was a midwestern RR and had Russian decs. Spectrum made a model of Frisco #1632.
Minneapolis, Northfield and Southern
Detroit, Toledo & Ironton
New Orleans Texas & Mexico (Missouri Pacific subsidiary)
Kansas City, Mexico & Orient (which was bought out by AT&SF). Did not last long as Santa Fe engies.
Andre