who built the best steam locomotive?
ALCO,BALDWIN,LIMA ,in house PENNSY,NW…I’d love to here the opinions.
Reading 4-8-4 's Baldwin had there hands in this one too.
I don’t think there is one simple answer to your question.For example;Pennsy built the K4,I1,M1,and the Q2(maybe the most powerful steam engine built?) in house at Altoona.Baldwin also built many of those engines for the PRR at the same time.Another example was the N & W’s “Y” class engines are thought to be the most efficient and powerful of all steam engines,which I believe were all built in Roanoke Shops.Of course,Lima built many Super-Power engines,like the the NKP Berkshires.I can’t even begin to comment on engines like Big Boys,Challengers,Yellowstones, Alleghenies,Texases,Hudsons,Kanahaws,or Mountains,et al.Sorry to anyone whose favorite engine wasn’t listed above,but that is the subjective nature of the question posed.It could at best be said that all of the above engines were all very successful in service to their owners,but which one or builder was the best will be argued until the end of time.One thing that I can say,is that I read somewhere that Baldwin built more steam engines than the other builders did,and enjoyed a very good reputation and crowded erecting floor until they tried to build diesels.Anyone else have a better answer?Good luck and stay safe.
Comparing steam locomotive builders is about as subjective as you can get. A given class of locomotive could often be built by several different builders, such as the examples mentioned above, NKP’s 2-8-4’s (the first batch was built by Alco) and probably others.
A factor also to be considered is if the locomotive was properly designed for the service in which it was going to be used. A well-known example is the C&O & VGN Alleghenies built by Lima. These engines were designed for high-speed service but were used for low-speed heavy (160-car) coal trains. On the other hand, NKP 2-8-4’s were designed for and used in fast freight service and the N&W Y6 was designed for and used in low-speed coal hauling. Both of these designs are properly considered to be quite successful.
Defining the best steam locomotive is more a function of design vs. use rather than the specific builder.
what is interseting is that the N&W built their own steam engines in roanoke va.And lima put out a good product too.I would have to say a tie between lima and roanoke.
stay safe
Joe
I gotta put my vote in for N&W with the Roanoke Shops.
Willy6,
I think you ask a fine question. Who built the best steam locomotive?
like DTomajko said, there isn’t one answer.
The best steam locomotive was the one that didn’t let the men down who worked them. (just like today)
The “good steamer” was a joy to work. The poor steamer was a curse.
The engine that had the power to lift a given string of cars up the rulling grade with out falling down was that days winner. If you were the fireman on an engine that lost its auto stoker it might have been a NYC Niagara but then it was worthless.
The builders aren’t important, even to day, what was important was that they did what was asked of them with the least amount of “hassle” for the crew. (again just like today)
I was aboard a Yellowstone (4-8-8-2) one summer. As I was sitting there I remembered a warning from an “old head” who made his living behind the throttle. “make sure you Drink water from the ice bucket regular and take salt tablets before the trip”
The cab behind the boiler of a locomotive was one of the hottest places on earth. [}:)] That “old head” told me that crews on the Yellowstones that didn’t drink or pop salt would get dehydrated and pass out in less then three hours.
The engine that had a ice bucket was the best one.[:)]
I must say though, Because I’ve been in them and studied there design I think the Yellowstone is my personal choice for best engine, but then I admit it
I’m prejudiced [:D]
Sooblue