2-6-2
Encyclopedia
Whyte notation
The Whyte notation for classifying steam locomotives by wheel arrangement was devised by Frederick Methvan Whyte and came into use in the early twentieth century encouraged by an editorial in American Engineer and Railroad Journal...
for the classification of steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s, 2-6-2 represents the wheel arrangement
Wheel arrangement
In rail transport, a wheel arrangement is a system of classifying the way in which wheels are distributed beneath a locomotive.. Several notations exist to describe the wheel assemblies of a locomotive by type, position, and connections, with the adopted notations varying by country...
of two leading wheel
Leading wheel
The leading wheel or leading axle of a steam locomotive is an unpowered wheel or axle located in front of the driving wheels. The axle or axles of the leading wheels are normally located in a truck...
s, six coupled driving wheel
Driving wheel
On a steam locomotive, a driving wheel is a powered wheel which is driven by the locomotive's pistons...
s and two trailing wheel
Trailing wheel
On a steam locomotive, a trailing wheel or trailing axle is generally an unpowered wheel or axle located behind the driving wheels. The axle of the trailing wheels was usually located on a trailing truck...
s.
Other equivalent classifications are:
UIC classification
UIC classification
The UIC classification of locomotive axle arrangements describes the wheel arrangement of locomotives, multiple units and trams. It is set out in the International Union of Railways "Leaflet 650 - Standard designation of axle arrangement on locomotives and multiple-unit sets". It is used in much...
(also known as German classification and Italian classification): 1C1,
French classification: 131,
Turkish classification: 35,
Swiss classification: 3/5.
The majority of American 2-6-2s were tender locomotive
Tender locomotive
A tender or coal-car is a special rail vehicle hauled by a steam locomotive containing the locomotive's fuel and water. Steam locomotives consume large quantities of water compared to the quantity of fuel, so tenders are necessary to keep the locomotive running over long distances. A locomotive...
s but, in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, tank locomotive
Tank locomotive
A tank locomotive or tank engine is a steam locomotive that carries its water in one or more on-board water tanks, instead of pulling it behind it in a tender. It will most likely also have some kind of bunker to hold the fuel. There are several different types of tank locomotive dependent upon...
s (classified 2-6-2T) were more common.
New Zealand
The first 2-6-2 or Prairie type locomotives in New Zealand were a fleet of 5 tank engines, built by Manning WardleManning Wardle
Manning Wardle was a steam locomotive manufacturer based in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England.- Precursor companies :The city of Leeds was one of the earliest centres of locomotive building; Matthew Murray built the first commercially successful steam locomotive, Salamanca, in Holbeck, Leeds,...
of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, England; supplied in 1884-85. The private Wellington and Manawatu Railway used them for construction, maintenance and local service work, and three were taken over as the Wh class
NZR WH class
The NZR WH class was a class of three steam locomotives built by Manning Wardle built for service on New Zealand's private Wellington and Manawatu Railway . They did not acquire their WH classification until 1908 when the publicly owned New Zealand Railways Department purchased the WMR and its...
in 1908.
The second batch was built to an order for New Zealand Railways Department
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
, with the initial order for 10 being let to Nasmyth, Wilson and Company of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. This was the V class
NZR V class
The NZR V class steam locomotive was used on New Zealand's railway network from 1885 onwards.-Introduction:The heavy increase in traffic by the early 1880s necessitated a design for a new class of passenger locomotive. The V class was conceived as an enlarged version of the 2-4-2 NZR K class of...
, which due to their being overweight and political interference did not go into traffic until 1890.
New Zealand's third batch of Prairie locomotives was ordered by the private Wellington and Manawatu Railway in 1884. Their design was almost identical to the NZR V class, though they were slightly heavier. They could burn any light fuel, coal or wood if available. They were built as designed and entered service in 1886 soon after the WMR started operating. In 1908, with the purchase of the company by the NZR, they also gained the V classification.
Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
built New Zealand's fourth batch of Prairie locomotives, in 1885. These were an almost identical design, altered to utilise off-the-shelf components supplied by Baldwins. This was the New Zealand Railways
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
N class
NZR N class
The N class were 12 steam locomotives that operated on the national rail network of New Zealand. They were built in three batches, including one batch of two engines for the private Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, the WMR, by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1885, 1891, and 1901...
, of which 6 were built in 1885. In 1891, two were built for the Wellington and Manawatu Railway to the same design, and in 1901, four more were built for the NZR. These last four were fitted with Piston Valves actuated by Walschaerts valve gear. By 1908, all of these engines were classified as N class
NZR N class
The N class were 12 steam locomotives that operated on the national rail network of New Zealand. They were built in three batches, including one batch of two engines for the private Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, the WMR, by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1885, 1891, and 1901...
, with the purchase of the WMR by NZR. Between 1894 and 1904, four similar engines were built by Baldwins for the WMR. In 1908, these became Na class
NZR Na class
The NA class was a class of two steam locomotives that operated on the privately owned Wellington and Manawatu Railway and then the publicly owned national rail network in New Zealand...
and Nc class
NZR Nc class
The NZR NC class was a class of two steam locomotives built by Baldwin Locomotive Works built for service on New Zealand's private Wellington and Manawatu Railway...
, with two units each.
The NZR Addington Workshops
Addington Workshops
The Addington Railway Workshops was a major railway facility established in the Christchurch suburb of Addington in May 1880 by the New Zealand Railways Department. The workshops were previously in Carlyle Street and closed in 1990.-Description:...
joined the list of Prairie suppliers in 1889, producing the first of two W class
NZR W class
The NZR W class consisted of two steam locomotives built at the Addington Railway Workshops in Christchurch, New Zealand by the New Zealand Railways Department....
tank engines. These were followed between 1892 and 1901 with 11 similar Wa class tank engines.
Baldwins followed this up with 10 similar Wb class
NZR Wb class
The NZR WB class was a class of tank locomotives that operated in New Zealand. Built in 1898 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, the twelve members of the class entered service during the first five months of 1899...
Prairie tank engines in 1898.
In 1930-31, New Zealand dusted off its Prairie plans, after nearly 30 years of Pacific
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
and Baltic
4-6-4
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-4 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles .Other equivalent classifications are:UIC classification:...
locomotive production, with the release into service of 24 C class
NZR C class (1930)
The C class consisted of twenty-four steam locomotives built to perform shunting duties on New Zealand's national rail network. It is sometimes known as the big C class to differentiate it from the C class of 1873.-History and construction:...
locomotives designed primarily for shunting and branch line work.
United States
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n customer were built by Brooks
Brooks Locomotive Works
The Brooks Locomotive Works manufactured steam railroad locomotives and freight cars from 1869 through its merger into the American Locomotive Company until 1934.-History:...
in 1900 for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
for use on the Midwestern prairies. The type was thus nicknamed the Prairie in North American practice; this name was often used in British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
practice as well. The 2 foot gauge Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad
Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad
The Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad was a narrow gauge common carrier railroad that operated approximately of gauge railroad in Franklin County, Maine.-History:Josiah L...
in Franklin County, Maine, was a major narrow gauge user.
In the USA the type evolved from the 2-6-0 configuration. The ATSF became one of the largest fleet users of the type and initially had tandem compound cylinders. However, tandem compounds and fast running are by definition incompatible. In 1902 the ATSF had a 2-6-2 with a boiler pressure of a huge (for those days) 220 p.s.i mounted on a large 41 square feet (3.8 m²) fire grate.(Swengel, p. 78.)
Tha major problem with the 2-6-2 as with the 2-10-2
2-10-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-10-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, ten powered and coupled driving wheels on five axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle, usually in a trailing truck...
is that these engines have a symmetrical layout, wherein the 'centre of gravity' is almost over the center driving wheel. The reciprocation rods, when working near the center of gravity, induce severe 'side to side' nosing, which if can't be restrained either by a long wheelbase or by the leading and trailing trucks results in 'severe instability'. Though some engines had the connecting rod aligned onto the third driver (like the Chicago and Great Western of 1903) most examples were powered via the second driver, hence the nosing problems remained with the type.(Swengel, p. 79.) In the USA, over 1,000 examples existed of which 100 were high wheeled engines; larger than 69 inches (1.8 m). The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern operated 80 inches (2 m) drivers but this did not overcome their inherent instability. The class was not suited to passenger workings because of the nosing problems. (Swengel, p. 80.)
Australia
The main 2-6-2T which were built for the Victoria's narrow gauge system are the now famous "Puffing Billy" engines. Two of little locomotives arrived in 1898 from Baldwin Locomotive works and a total of 17 saw service throughout the state on the various narrow gauge timber and gold lines, including Wangaratta and Walhalla
Walhalla, Victoria
Walhalla is a small town in Victoria, Australia, founded as a gold-mining community in early 1863 and at its peak home to around 2,500 residents. Today, the town has a population of fewer than 20 permanent residents, though it has a large proportion of houses owned as holiday properties. It...
. When the VR determined to close the Upper Ferntree Gully to Gembrook narrow gauge route in the mid-1950s the Victorian community refused to let the train die. Today, the Puffing Billy Railway has on active steam roster, a fleet of saved and modified 2-6-2T engines and is one of Victoria's main tourist attractions.
Hungary
The most numerous steam locomotive type used in Hungary was the 324 class 2-6-2, built from 1909 onwards and which were still at work in the last days of steam. Hungarian State RailwaysHungarian State Railways
Hungarian State Railways is the Hungarian national railway company, with divisions "MÁV Start Zrt" and "MÁV Cargo Zrt" ....
(MAV) also ran three important classes of 2-6-2 tank engines: these were the large 342 class built from 1917, and the smaller 375s and 376s.
Russia/Soviet Union
In Russia the 2-6-2 was the standard passenger locomotive. They were represented by the pre revolutionary design, the S(С) (Sormovskij) and the Su (Су) series locomotives which appeared in 1928. The pre-revolutionary S-series locomotive has the characteristic pointed nose, absent on the Su locomotive. The suffix 'u' means 'usilenny' which translates as strengthened or uprated. Several are preserved- several Su-series locomotives are even preserved in working order! However, only one pre-revolutionary S-series locomotive is still around - S68. It is located in the Saint Petersburg railway museum.The Su was the main standard passenger engine on most routes and it was only on the key trunk lines that the IS class 2-8-4 or later the P36 4-8-4 would be used. Therefore the majority of passenger miles were hauled by an Su (Су). Visually the Su was the last true ‘Russian’ looking design before the American influence of high running boards, bar frames and ‘boxpok’ wheels became the norm. The Su retains such features as a clerestory sky light in the cab roof and handrails on the outside of the running board. The handrails were a result of the harsh Russian winters. Ice would build up on running boards making them highly dangerous, enginemen had fallen to their death from moving trains and the fitting of ‘promenade deck’ style handrails was a safety measure ordered by the Tsar (pre revolutionary times). These features, combined with the high (17 ft) loading gauge combine to give the uniquely Russian look. (Russian Steam Locomotives, LeFleming/Price)(Locomotives of Russia 1845 - 1955, V.A.Rakov).
Poland
H. Cegielski Metal Works in Poznań produced 122 OKl27 class tank locomotiveTank locomotive
A tank locomotive or tank engine is a steam locomotive that carries its water in one or more on-board water tanks, instead of pulling it behind it in a tender. It will most likely also have some kind of bunker to hold the fuel. There are several different types of tank locomotive dependent upon...
s during the period of 1928 - 1933.
In 1951-54 Fablok built a series of 116 Ol49 class tender locomotives for PKP.
United Kingdom
Midland Railway Paget locomotive
The Midland Railway's Paget locomotive, No. 2299, was an experimental steam locomotive constructed at its Derby Works in 1908 to the design of the General Superintendent Cecil Paget ....
of 1908. Thereafter the wheel arrangement was rare on tender locomotives apart from two classes on the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
: the V2
LNER Class V2
The London and North Eastern Railway Class V2 2-6-2 steam locomotives were designed by Sir Nigel Gresley for express mixed traffic work, and built between 1936–1944. The best known is the first of the class, 4771 Green Arrow, which is the only preserved example.-Construction:The V2s were the only...
and V4
LNER Class V4
The London and North Eastern Railway Class V4 was a class of 2-6-2 steam locomotive designed bySir Nigel Gresley for mixed-traffic use. It was to be Gresley's last design for the LNER as he died in 1941....
mixed traffic classes, which between them totalled 186 locomotives.
In contrast, 2-6-2 tank locomotives were very widely used on suburban passenger services, particularly by the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
which built four main classes between 1903 and 1947 (see GWR 2-6-2T
GWR 2-6-2T
The GWR 2-6-2T was the mainstay of the Great Western Railway's suburban passenger services. Many classes were built and they were developed from one of George Jackson Churchward's pioneer designs – the experimental No 99...
). Sir Henry Fowler of the London Midland and Scottish Railway introduced a successful 2-6-2T class
LMS Fowler 2-6-2T
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Fowler 2-6-2T was a class of steam locomotive. The LMS classified them 3P, BR 3MT.- Overview :...
in 1930, which became the basis of further similar classes by Stanier
LMS Stanier 2-6-2T
The Stanier 2-6-2T was a class of London, Midland and Scottish Railway steam locomotive. They were designed by William Stanier based on the earlier LMS Fowler 2-6-2T.- Overview :...
(1935) and Ivatt
LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T is a class of light 'mixed-traffic' steam locomotive introduced in 1946.- Background :...
1946. Sir Nigel Gresley of the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
introduced his V1 and V3 classes
LNER Class V1/V3
The London and North Eastern Railway Class V1 and Class V3 were two classes of related 2-6-2T steam locomotive designed by Sir Nigel Gresley....
in 1930.
The last 2-6-2T locomotives in Britain were the British Railways standard class 2
BR standard class 2 2-6-2T
The British Railways standard class 2 2-6-2T was a class of steam locomotive, one of the standard classes of the 1950s.- Design and construction :...
built between 1953 and 1957. The design derived from the earlier LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T
LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T is a class of light 'mixed-traffic' steam locomotive introduced in 1946.- Background :...
.
Narrow gauge
Narrow gauge
A narrow gauge railway is a railway that has a track gauge narrower than the of standard gauge railways. Most existing narrow gauge railways have gauges of between and .- Overview :...
engines but the design was modified to allow the use of a firebox much wider than the track gauge. A standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
2-6-2T normally has inside frames and the firebox is placed between the second and third coupled axles. A narrow gauge one has outside frames and the firebox is placed behind the third coupled axle and clear of the wheels. To minimise the rear overhang, the fuel is carried in side-bunkers (alongside the firebox) instead of a rear bunker.
Preserved examples include the Welsh Highland Railway's Russell, the Vale of Rheidol Railway locomotives
Vale of Rheidol Railway locomotives
thumb|No 7 Owain Glyndŵr taking water and oil at Aberystwyth depot.thumb|No 8 Llewellyn at Devil's Bridge - at this time all three steam locomotives were allocated a TOPS code, and painted in [[rail blue]] livery....
, numbers 4 and 5 of the Jokioinen Museum Railway
Jokioinen Museum Railway
The Jokioinen Museum Railway is located in Jokioinen, Finland. It is based on the last narrow gauge railway in Finland, the gauge Jokioinen Railway....
, and the Victorian Railways
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
class NA 2-6-2 tank locomotives on the Puffing Billy Railway
Puffing Billy Railway, Melbourne
The Puffing Billy Railway is a narrow gauge gauge heritage railway in the Dandenong Ranges near Melbourne, Australia. The primary starting point, operations and administration centre, main refreshment room and ticket purchasing are located at Belgrave station...
.