1941 Lima 2-6-6-6 (#7824) at the B&O Railroad Museum

By the 1940's, the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (C&O) and Lima Locomotive Works developed a new type of steam locomotive that could tackle the tough Allegheny Mountain grades more efficiently than the current 2-6-6-2's and 2-8-8-2's. The new locomotive had a 109-inch wide boiler, which was 2 inches larger than the "Big Boy" locomotive and a fire box that was so large it required a six-wheel trailing truck to support it. The locomotive only had six axles, instead of the usual eight. This new 2-6-6-6 locomotive was known as the "Allegheny" after the mountains it was designed to conquer.

1938 Heisler 0-4-0F at the B&O Railroad Museum

As I made my way to the back of the workshop, I noticed a little switcher stuck almost hidden in the corner. As I approached it, I saw the name on it and was like "YES! It's a Heisler!" The only other time I had seen one of these was last year on my trek through Mississippi.

1927 Baldwin 4-6-2 (#59881) at the B&O Railroad Museum

The No. 5300, "President Washington" was the first of 20 class P-7 Pacific-type locomotives built for the B&O by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1927 and first unveiled at the B&O's centennial celebration, also known as the Fair of the Iron Horse. These locomotives were named after the first 21 U.S. Presidents with only one President Adams to represent both John and John Quincy Adams. These locomotives were designed for the B&O's premier Royal Blue Line passenger route between New York and Washington and considered one of the most handsome of the 4-6-2 type locomotive designs. The locomotive tenders were designed with water scoops to allow for refilling without stopping. The locomotives were also equipped with automatic train control for safety of operation. This feature insured that a train missing a signal was stopped immediately.

1918 Baldwin 2-8-2 (#49153) at the B&O Railroad Museum

By 1897, a new 2-8-2 wheel arrangement was introduced to the railroad industry. The new locomotive type placed the firebox behind the driving wheels, therefore requiring a trailing truck to support the redistribution of weight. The Baldwin Locomotive Works built the first 2-8-2's for shipment to Japan. Americans called the 2-8-2 locomotive "Mikado," referring to the Japanese emperor and a popular Gilbert & Sullivan opera at the time. During World War II, the B&O changed the name of this locomotive to the "MacArthur," however many crews ignored the official name change and continued to call the 2-8-2's "Mikados" or "Mikes."

1902 Baldwin 4-6-0 (#21329) at the B&O Railroad Museum

The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (C&O) No. 377 was originally built in 1902 for the Cincinnati, Richmond & Muncie Railroad. The locomotive was first known as the No. 108 and was constructed for use on the light rails. Shortly after the purchase of the No. 108, the line was merged into the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad (CC&L). In 1909, the CC&L went bankrupt and was subsequently purchased by the C&O. During the 1920s, the No. 108 was renumbered as the No. 1108 and in 1923, it was renumbered as the No. 377.

1905 Lima Shay 3Tr (#1519) at the B&O Railroad Museum

Prior to 1880, lumber companies used mules to haul logs to the saw mills. In 1879, Lima Locomotive Works built the first light version of the standard freight engine design in order to haul logs. This logging locomotive design was perfected by Michigan inventor, Ephramin Shay. His gear-driven locomotive with flexible wheel base had three side-mount cylinders, which powered a long crankshaft fitted with beveled gears. The wheelbase allowed the locomotive to handle the curves and the grades of logging country, but limited the speed of the locomotive. The "Shay" locomotive was an immediate success and nicknamed the "Iron Mule." Around 2,700 "Shay" locomotives were built in a 65 year period.

1901 ALCO 4-4-2C "Camelback" (B&O Railroad Museum)

In 1877, John Wootten, the General Manager of the Reading Railroad created the 4-6-0 Camelback. His design incorporated a larger firebox to accommodate the burning of waste anthracite coal.

1888 B&O 2-8-0 "AJ Cromwell" (B&O Railroad Museum)

In 1866, the Lehigh Valley Railroad's Master Mechanic, Alexander Mitchell, designed the first 2-8-0 type locomotive. It was known as a "Consolidation" because it was completed at the same time the Lehigh Valley Railroad was consolidating with the Lehigh & Mahanoy Railroad. The name was later applied to all 2-8-0's.

1882 CC&IC 4-6-0 "Clinchfield #1" (B&O Railroad Museum)

The Clinchfield No.1 was originally built in 1882 for the Columbus, Chicago, & Indiana Central Railway, which became a predecessor railroad to the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR). First known as the No. 423, the locomotive was considered a typical freight engine of its day with 50 inch driving wheels to accommodate the large and low fire box. Its tender was capable of carrying 8.5 tons of coal.

1875 B&O 2-6-0 "JC Davis" (B&O Railroad Museum)

Shortly after the Civil War, the United States experienced an industrial boom and the railroad industry established itself as the country's first big business. Unregulated business practices allowed investors and businessmen to acquire unheard of wealth. Paralleling the industry's success, locomotive technology continued to develop. In 1875, J.C. Davis, the Master of Machinery for the B&O, created the 2-6-0 freight locomotive. Due to the power and success of the railroad industry, these locomotives were known as "Moguls." 

1869 B&O 4-6-0C "Camel" (B&O Railroad Museum)

Every now and then on my trains vacations I encounter something I had never seen or heard of before. Say hello to the "Camel".

1863 B&O 4-6-0 "Thatcher Perkins" (B&O Railroad Museum)

In 1853, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad built its first "Ten Wheeler" locomotives to tackle the tough mountain grades in what is now West Virginia. A decade later, this locomotive type was needed to meet the demand caused by the Civil War and increased passenger traffic on the B&O. The No. 147 was part of the first series of "Ten Wheelers" designed by Master of Machinery, Thatcher Perkins, in 1863. After moving Union troops during the war, the versatile No. 147 continued to pull both passenger and freight trains.

1856 Mason Machine Works 4-4-0 (B&O Railroad Museum)

Between 1830 and 1855, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (B&O) increased its track mileage from 13 to 411 miles. Locomotive designs improved to meet the increasing demands. The most popular passenger locomotive in the 19th century was the "American" type 4-4-0. In 1856, the B&O ordered two "American" type locomotives from Mason Machine Works in Taunton, Massachusetts, one of which was the No. 25. William Mason, the founder of the Mason Machine Works, who introduced the idea of turning out locomotives of beauty as well as utility.

1851 Seth Wilmarth 2-2-2T "Pioneer" (B&O Railroad Museum)

Sometimes you come across something which is truly a gem. This was one of my favorite finds on this vacation. This train was actually damaged by fire when J.E.B. Stuart was on his famous cavalry raid of Pennsylvania in 1862. In Chambersburg, PA, Stuart set fire to the Cumberland Valley Railway's depot, machine shops, and the roundhouse where the Pioneer was stored. However, the train was only out of service for three months.

1848 New Castle Manufacturing 0-8-0 at the B&O Railroad Museum

This is a beautiful train

1831, 1834, and 1836 B&O 0-4-0's: The "York", "Atlantic", and "John Hancock" (B&O Railroad Museum)

The York

Early steam train design used a vertical boiler.