While the C&O called their 2-6-6-6’s Allegheney’s [ for the mountains they conquered ] , the VGN called theirs Blue Ridge [ similarly for the mountains they conquered ]. That being fact, why would VGN have had them classed in the “books” as AG (Allegheney) and not BR (BlueRidge)? Anyone know or have any speculations? Thanks.
Each carriers devise there own systems to catalog virtually everything they own - equipment, motive power, paper form designations for all the paper forms needed for each and every function needed in the operation of their business, part number designations for all the component parts of the equipment they own and operate and on and on and on.
All such systems get designed around whatever exists at the time the system is created.
The B&O in its steam era susequent to about 1910, identified their locomotive types as a single letter designating non-articulated locomotive types. 0-4-0’s were type C, 0-6-0’s were type D, 0-8-0’s were type L; 4-6-2’s were type P; 2-8-2’s were type Q; 2-10-2’s were type S; 4-8-2’s were type T and various other letters for other engine configurations - when articulated engines arrived on the scene they were given a two letter designation based on two letters of the the single engine types the were combined. Old Maude the original articulated was class DD as it was a 0-6-6-0; B&O’s war time classic 2-8-8-4 was class EM. Each class would get a number and potentially letters depending upon the iteration of the engine and any particular modifications that were made. Systems change and evolve over time and at some point in time. At some point in time the organization will come to the realization that its existing system is no
I haven’t actually gone to check (I’ll look at my cyclopedia soon…), but the types were commonly known by the road that first ordered them, or trialed them, or that placed a first order subsequently, or by the designation the first road appended to their type. The C&O got the first ‘mountain’ type as well. The Texas Type 2-10-4 because the T&P placed the first order, if I recall correctly, or maybe they did the first trials…not sure. The Northern because the NP got the first batch of them. And so on.
Then the Hudson came along…[;)]
Don’t you mean the Baltic???
(Grinning, ducking and running)
Looking at my copy of Kalmbach’s Guide to North American Steam Locomotives, a very good book that everyone should own, I got the answer. “AG” doesn’t stand for “Allegheny”. The VGN classed all their articulated locomotives with a two letter class that began with “A”. When the 2-6-6-6 came along, AG just happened to be the next sequential letter.
[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D] Yes, I Do! [:-^]
Well, you know the Canadian National had a 4-6-4 first!
OK, it was a 4-6-4T used in Montreal commuter service, but that being the case maybe the CN should have had naming rights.
Say, a “St. Lawrence” or “Ottawa” type?
Mon Dieu, Monsieur Flintlock76!
C’est Montreal!
4-6-4T devrait etre du type Riviere!
L’outaouais?
Le richelain?
Le western townships?
Not all. There was the USA, USB and USC 2-8-8-2’s.
USA was very appropriate, they were USRA locomotives
And in today’s tech world we have USB, USB-2 and USB-3. Everything in the world ends up being named or classed - whoever does it sets their own rules when they do it.
Correct, and the other two “US” classes were copies.
The VGN had a very logical classification system. For example, class MB was the second model of Mikado (and incidentally, the road’s “maid of all work”) and all electric classes began with EL for “Electric Locomotive”. In terms of first letters,B stood for Berkshire, S for switcher, E for Eight Wheeler, P for Pacific, T for Ten Wheeler, A for articulated and X for eXtreme (I made the last up). The second letter was the sequence number within the type. The exception are the US type locos, with their three letters, with US believed to stand for USRA design. IIRC, the FM H16-44’s were class DS and the H24-66’s were class DRS. I’ve forgotten what they called the lone 44 tonner stationed on isolated trackage in Norfolk.
Virginian Railway steam locomotives
| Class | Wheel Arr- angement |
Dr. Dia. |
Cylinders Dia. x Stroke |
Boiler Press. |
Ad. Wt. |
EW WO |
Grate Area |
Evap. Surface |
|---|
Four extra classes; there was a USD (rebuilt from USA) class “late in the game”, and a USE (ex-N&W Y-class).
Backshop: Thank you very much. I’ve been wrong for over 50 years as to the AG nomenclature!
BEAUSABRE: Thank you very much for your very informative VGN steam roster; now I know.
I’m wrong quite often myself. Just ask my wife! [:D] j/k
C&O sold its C-16’s to both VGN and N&W. As is well-known, Roanoke later built its own 0-8-0’s to the same design, the last steam locomotives built in the United States for domestic service.