What happened N&W 1218?
It was retired from regular revenue service in 1959, and was later restored by Norfolk Southern for excursion service on their steam program, pulling excursions throughout the eastern United States from 1987 to 1991. It is currently on static display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia.
What is a mallet type locomotive?
The Mallet locomotive is a type of articulated steam railway locomotive, invented by the Swiss engineer Anatole Mallet (1837–1919). The exhaust steam from these cylinders was fed into a low-pressure receiver and was then sent to low-pressure cylinders that powered the driving wheels on the swiveling bogie.
How many horsepower were steam locomotives?
List
| Name | Railway | Power |
|---|---|---|
| Union Pacific 9000 class | Union Pacific | 4,750 horsepower (3,542 kW) |
| Challenger | Union Pacific | 5,000 horsepower (3,728 kW) |
| Big Boy | Union Pacific | 6,290 horsepower (4,690 kW) |
| Yellowstone | Northern Pacific DM&IR B&O Railroad | 6,250 horsepower (4,661 kW) |
Will N&W 1218 run again?
Today, Norfolk and Western 1218 is the sole surviving 2-6-6-4 and is preserved in excellent condition (despite missing many parts from a partial rebuild never completed it the 1990s) at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke. There are no plans at present to see the big locomotive restored to operation.
Is Big Boy a mallet?
The Big Boys, Yellowstones, as well as many other articulated steam locomotives, used simple expansion (high pressure cylinders all around), and thus, according to the strictest definition of the term, are not true mallets. Because they are both the same size, they operate using the same (high) pressure.
What is an articulated steam locomotive?
An articulated locomotive is a steam locomotive (rarely, an electric locomotive) with one or more engine units that can move independent of the main frame. Articulated locomotives saw service in many nations, but were very popular on narrow-gauge railways in Europe.