what do the numbers mean?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

ok i use to know this when i did trains over 20 years ago. i am getting back into it and need to know on a locomotive what does the numbers ex. 2-8-0 mean. these are my favorite of all thrains.

2

grr now i rember its about the wheels

3

Under the Whyte system, a 2-8-0 is a steam locomotive with two lead wheels, eight drivers, and no trailing wheels. It is commonly called a Consolidation type locomotive.

Mark

4

thanks

5

Then to confuse things, there’s the FEF locomotive.[:-^] (4-8-4)

6

FEF’s don’t count. That’s the Utterly Pathetic’s home road class designation, not the actual Whyte system’s classification.

What does get confusing is when you go to Europe, where they count axles, not wheels. Your 4-8-4 becomes a 2-4-2 (which in the US is - I think - a “Columbia” type, which went pretty much out of production before WW-1.) What’s worse is a 2-3-1 (4-6-2) or a 1-4-1 (2-8-2). Your brain does a double-take… [%-)]

7

Actually the locomotive that sees more activity than any other is the time honored 0-5-0!