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Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, a 4-8-4 locomotive has four leading wheels arranged in a leading truck, eight coupled driving wheels and four trailing wheels in a trailing truck.
The equivalent UIC classification is 2'D2'.
The 4-8-4 was an obvious progression from the 4-8-2 "Mountain" and the 4-6-4 "Hudson" types, combining the 4-8-2's ability to have more weight on the driving wheels (leading to greater traction, and allowing a larger, more powerful locomotive) and the 4-6-4's larger firebox supported by a 4-wheel trailing truck, allowing for freer steaming, particularly at speed.
Development in the United States
The first 4-8-4 was produced in 1927 by Alco for the Northern Pacific Railway, and the type was therefore named "Northern". Southern railroads in particular obviously didn't find this name very suitable, so they chose other names for their 4-8-4 classes.
| Railroad | Name |
|---|---|
| Canadian National Railway | Confederation |
| Central of Georgia Railroad | Big Apple |
| Chesapeake and Ohio Railway | Greenbrier |
| Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad | Pocono |
| Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad | Western |
| Grand Trunk Western Railroad | Confederation |
| Lehigh Valley Railroad | Wyoming |
| Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway | Dixie |
| Ferrocarriles Nacionales de Mexico | Niágara |
| New York Central Railroad | Niagara |
| Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad | General, Governor, Statesman (three different classes) |
| Southern Pacific Railroad | Golden State (or General Service) |
| Western Maryland Railway | Potomac |
The Northern type proved to be the best choice of locomotive arrangement for both express passenger and fast freight service. It wasn't suited to heavy drag freight, but faster and lighter trains were well suited to the type.
Given that the 4-8-4 was a late development and Northerns were often the 'name' passenger power at the time of steam's demise, many were saved from the scrapper's torch and are now preserved in museums, or in the case of a lucky few, kept in running condition.
The Union Pacific Railroad has a Northern on its roster that has never been retired from service, UP 844, the last steam locomotive built for the UP. It is used for charter service and for publicity for the railroad. It also holds the unique distinction of being the only steam locomotive never retired by a Class I railroad.
Other countries
Germany: The Deutsche Reichsbahn in 1939 took two prototypes of the BR 06 into service. They were designed for heavy express trains with a speed up to 140 km/h (87 mph). However due to World War II, no more units were produced and as trains in Germany are less haevy, no real need was seen for such a heavy express train locomotive. Many parts as the boiler were standardised and also used in BR 45 heavy freight train locomotives. Both BR 06 prototypes were scrapped in the 1950s.
Preservation
Many 4-8-4 locomotives have been preserved in museums, and a few are kept in operational condition. Some of the more notable of this type are:
- Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe 3751 - Restored in 1991, owned by the San Bernardino Railroad Historical Society
- Chesapeake & Ohio 614 - Restored in 1980, and again in 1995, currently owned by Iron Horse Enterprise
- Grand Trunk Western 6325 - Restored in 2001 by the Ohio Central Railroad
- Milwaukee Road 261 - Restored in 1993, owned by the National Railway Museum in Green Bay, WI. Leased by North Star Rail in St. Paul, MN
- Norfolk & Western 611 - Ran frequent excursions in the 1980s and early 1990s, currently on display in the Virginia Museum of Transportation.
- Reading 2100-Restored in 1988, and 1998, converted to burn oil in the Early 2000s. Now in Tacoma, WA for possible excursion train use
- St. Louis Southwestern 819 - Restored to service in 1988, currently stored in Pine Bluff, AK
- St. Louis - San Francisco Railway Company 4501 - Built in 1942, ran overnight passenger service between St. Louis, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City. Donated to the Dallas Railway Museum in September 1964
- Spokane, Portland and Seattle 700
- Southern Pacific 4449 - still in operation, served as the locomotive for the Bicentennial American Freedom Train
- Southern Pacific 4460 - on static display at the Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri. This was the last steam locomotive used in revenue service by the SP.
- Union Pacific 844 - the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific Railroad; it has never left the UP roster, and is currently running in excursion service.
"4-8-4"