Glad you like Mikados. Here in UK we are building a new one! This is P2, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in the 1930s. All the P2s were scrapped or converted to Pacifics, so the new one fills a gap in loco history.
The Consolidation was the main stay for the Rio Grande narrow gauge operations for many years until the acquisition of the K series and the building of the K37, which ironically was a standard gauge C41 Consolidation.
I think you are very spot on with your choices! I was on a toss up between the Mikado and and the Consolidation, I refer to those as belly button locomotives every line had them. I would have switched the yellowstone and an the berkshire on the line up but that's my opinion. I am so glad the Pacific was rated so highly, it was the first building block of most high speed and horsepower units that followed. Great job!
Agree totally with your selection of the Mikado as #1. Probably the most notable example was the USRA light Mikado, assigned to numerous railroads during WWI. Many of these roads liked them well enough to order near identical copies after the war, with many lasting until the end of steam. Also totally agree with your #2 choice of the Consolidation as these were numerous and were the freight workhorse for years. They could be either a massive powerhouse or a locomotive with light enough axle loading to work light railed branch lines. There are only two things I would add: first is probably the best known Ten Wheeler ever, Sierra Ry #3, still active at more than 130 years of age, and second, as a Michiganian, i would remind you not to forget the "other" operational Berkshire, Pere Marquette 1225, just returned to service this past Christmas season after a complete running gear overhaul. BTW, the appearance of a Pere Marquette Pacific in this video did not escape me and was much appreciated.
No 2 the Connie and no 1 the Mike. I agree. While the "super power" engines and huge articulateds get the glory, it was the lowly 2-8-0 and 2-8-2 that carried America through 2 world wars and into the Diesel age.
I very much like your arrangement and it makes a lot of sense. I also learned a LOT and gained much appreciation for the older non-articulated units. Of course I'm biased to the A and Y6B because my dad worked in the N&W Williamson yard from the 50's to 1980 and I grew up with the coal yard about 100 feet away from our house. Thank you. I really enjoyed learning about the other steam locomotives!
1:15 The Jupiter 4-4-0 and UP 119, both at Golden Spike NHS, are replicas of the originals. The originals were scraped in 1903 and the current ones were built in 1979.
My grandfather was a machinist for L&N at Corbin, KY and worked on Mikados that were in freight service in Eastern Kentucky coal mine service. I got to see them in the shops in the late 1940’s as diesels were making their appearance. Watched them int their retirement years later in 1950’s. Magnificent machines whether pulling coal drags, or disassembled in the shop
I'm another one that would knock the Yellowstone off. They were indeed awesome, but it's difficult to say they were successful with 72 built. If being successful at their job is a criterion I'd replace the Yellowstone with the 0-6-0. In the US more than 15,000 of them were built from the 1830's until 1946. Most railroads had them. And if the list isn't restricted to the USA I'd include the Russian E Class 0-10-0. Around 11,000 of them were built from 1912 and 1957.
I'm just going to jam my 10 in here without watching the video and see how I did. In no particular order. N&W Y6b: Ultimate Mallet. N&W A: Not as big a fan of this as most people. In fact I think it is overrated (I.E. people attribute to its design things it couldn't do) but the N&W utilized it to the absolute limit where other more capable engines did not get pushed as hard. The C&O T-1/ PRR J-1: basically the same engine, revolutionized motive power on the C&O and modernized power on the PRR, lasting longer than the Duplexes designed to replace it. The AMC Berkshires: (NKP, PM, and C&O). probably the best multifunctional engines ever made. the NYC Niagara: basically the last major advance in passenger steam with impressive utilization and availability Milwaukee Road F-7: probably the ultimate Hudson, with most agressive passenger service schedule of basically any train. Timken 4 Aces: proved the importance and effectiveness of roller bearings in locomotive usage. Also did a lot of work. Lima A-1. introduced super-power concepts (deep firebox, high horsepower) UP Challengers: introduced the most popular of the high speed articulated locomotives, copied numerous times C&O H-1. probably the most successful early mallet, radically improving the C&O's operations over the Allegheny subdivision. provided to the N&W after the failure of their Y-1 and X-1 mallets, and extensively copied with their Z mallets. arguably the originator of the two most successful mallet classes of all time (C&O H1-H6, N&W Z1, and N&W Y2-Y6b)
@@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower Probably the 2-8-8-4, they werent too widespread when you think about it. Many railroads had hudson types for passenger services. Unfortunately, the reason why the type is so rare today is because of them being only used really for passenger service, they were some of the first victims of dieselization as passenger services were dieselized much quicker than freight trains.
@lroadCrossing-SteamPower Im gauging "Successful" by how many railroads used the type. and the hudson was simply much more prevalent on railroads than the yellowstone.t
Good overview, however, the humble 0-6-0 and 2-10-0 would have been worth a mention. The Russian JS (ИС) class was a Berkshire, with 650 being built from 1932. If you were going to a Soviet labour camp, your train would most likely be pulled by one.
The L&N should've designed their own 4-8-2 Mountain Types while Baldwin or Lima builds them. using the same or similar look on some of the Pacifics and J-2 Mikados.. for their L-1 Mountains instead of USRA. I love the L&N railroad. If you look at other Mountain types from other railroads both extant and in extinct, they re-use that same or similar design for their Mountain Type Locomotives. You can tell that B&O has done that, the PRR has done, and even the NYC.
If ever one were to do so.. These might be the days it happens with scores of governments looking for alternative means when it comes energy and transportation.
@@AlexThePatriot Well, I would center a locomotive that can burn either hydrogen or at worst Natural gas. However, one of the biggest issues would be derailment safety. The supplying car would have to be armored in my mind..and also redundant cut off valves to cover any kind of disconnection.Otherwise you risk a massive explosion. I think with today's tech we can get enough consistent BTU's to fire a steam locomotive with either fuel source above. Or more likely a turbine that produces power much like a current diesel does. Steam you have to create supporting infrastructure with water in particular. That equals greater cost to implement.
I don't see it happening. There's simply too much maintenance involved for steam locomotives to actually make a meaningful return. There's also water treatment positions required every 100 or so miles. Too many people required for the amount of freight moved.
Outside of the top 10, honorable mentions would be; 4-4-2 Atlantic type, 2-10-0 Decapod (DRB Class 50 is part of this wheel arrangement), 0-10-0 Ten-Coupled, and 4-6-6-4.
The list was based on wheel arrangements.. But yes I can definitely see an argument for the 4-4-2.. I didnt select it because the 4-6-2 was very close to production already by the time the 4-4-2 became used.
WHEN you talk about ten wheelers i question your expertise on them as you left out the mention of the most famous one of all and still in operation the Sierra no 3 made by RODGERS and the best looking of them all and western pacific 94 0n display
I cannot mention every last locomotive in every class of them. Unless you want to watch a 5 hour video. This was just a brief list of each, not a feature video of each. !Goodness!
a majority of the list were largely used around the world and in large numbers. And also the list was wheel arrangements, not specific railroad designs.
You really should make your title clear that this is just American locos.........what about the UK, France, Germany, South Africa or even China?? This is misleading
I would/will never clickbait a title of mine. The railroad logo's on the thumbnail more than hints of the content. Also, a large number of the selections are also International exports from the U.S. The video already ran past 12 minutes. I cannot get into serious depth on any one entry.. I would otherwise have a video well over an hour. There are some English designs in particular I will get to.
4-4-2 Atlantic, 4-6-4 Hudson and the 2-10-4 Texas type came to mind as successful types too.
Which would you bounce in favor of your two?
@@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPowerThe 4-8-2 Mountain/Mohawk and the 2-6-6-4.
Wow.. Okay, that's two of you who said the Yellowstone.. Interesting, wasn't expecting that
Pennsy's fat-boilered 4-4-2 especially.
Glad you like Mikados. Here in UK we are building a new one! This is P2, designed by Sir Nigel Gresley in the 1930s. All the P2s were scrapped or converted to Pacifics, so the new one fills a gap in loco history.
Yayyyy!!
Illinois Central 2500 is only 40 minutes west of me, I've driven by that park 1,000 times but never stopped to see it up close.
You should stop when you can! Let your mind wander for a spell.
The Consolidation was the main stay for the Rio Grande narrow gauge operations for many years until the acquisition of the K series and the building of the K37, which ironically was a standard gauge C41 Consolidation.
I think you are very spot on with your choices! I was on a toss up between the Mikado and and the Consolidation, I refer to those as belly button locomotives every line had them. I would have switched the yellowstone and an the berkshire on the line up but that's my opinion. I am so glad the Pacific was rated so highly, it was the first building block of most high speed and horsepower units that followed. Great job!
Thank you!
Agree totally with your selection of the Mikado as #1. Probably the most notable example was the USRA light Mikado, assigned to numerous railroads during WWI. Many of these roads liked them well enough to order near identical copies after the war, with many lasting until the end of steam. Also totally agree with your #2 choice of the Consolidation as these were numerous and were the freight workhorse for years. They could be either a massive powerhouse or a locomotive with light enough axle loading to work light railed branch lines. There are only two things I would add: first is probably the best known Ten Wheeler ever, Sierra Ry #3, still active at more than 130 years of age, and second, as a Michiganian, i would remind you not to forget the "other" operational Berkshire, Pere Marquette 1225, just returned to service this past Christmas season after a complete running gear overhaul. BTW, the appearance of a Pere Marquette Pacific in this video did not escape me and was much appreciated.
That reminds me.. Someone asked me to do a video on the USRA differences Light V. Heavy.. ETC
No 2 the Connie and no 1 the Mike. I agree. While the "super power" engines and huge articulateds get the glory, it was the lowly 2-8-0 and 2-8-2 that carried America through 2 world wars and into the Diesel age.
Thank you!
I very much like your arrangement and it makes a lot of sense.
I also learned a LOT and gained much appreciation for the older non-articulated units. Of course I'm biased to the A and Y6B because my dad worked in the N&W Williamson yard from the 50's to 1980 and I grew up with the coal yard about 100 feet away from our house.
Thank you. I really enjoyed learning about the other steam locomotives!
1:15 The Jupiter 4-4-0 and UP 119, both at Golden Spike NHS, are replicas of the originals. The originals were scraped in 1903 and the current ones were built in 1979.
Yep, that's correct.
My grandfather was a machinist for L&N at Corbin, KY and worked on Mikados that were in freight service in Eastern Kentucky coal mine service. I got to see them in the shops in the late 1940’s as diesels were making their appearance. Watched them int their retirement years later in 1950’s. Magnificent machines whether pulling coal drags, or disassembled in the shop
They earned that spot.. whether it was intended or not back in their day.
CN/GTW used 4-8-4's in both passenger and freight services successfully.
Some models and RR's did well as dual service, Others did not.
I agree with you on the Mikado. I personally think that the Northern should be higher ranked though.
A case could be made for sure!
Love the videos! Very informative and educational
Glad you like them!
Great video most informative and entertaining.
Much appreciated!
Agreed, except I feel the 2-8-0 should have been number one!
Best argument I have heard yet! Good One!
I do enjoy your videos so much. Keep it going!
Glad you like them!
Great vidio. Thanks for the morning coffee...
Any time!
Thank you! I love the 2-8-2 Mikados! They are my favorite steam locomotives! (Specificly Nickel Plate Road 587) :D
I'm another one that would knock the Yellowstone off. They were indeed awesome, but it's difficult to say they were successful with 72 built. If being successful at their job is a criterion I'd replace the Yellowstone with the 0-6-0. In the US more than 15,000 of them were built from the 1830's until 1946. Most railroads had them. And if the list isn't restricted to the USA I'd include the Russian E Class 0-10-0. Around 11,000 of them were built from 1912 and 1957.
Fair enough
There’s a second operational Berkshire, the Pere Marquette 1225 more famously known as the Polar Express.
Yep! No slight intended.
@@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower non taken. You have a great list. Have you thought about doing what are your favorite historical road emblems/logos?
@@CMartMatross No, I hadn't thought about it.. Interesting thought though.. Kinda like the best NFL uniforms debate..
I'm just going to jam my 10 in here without watching the video and see how I did. In no particular order.
N&W Y6b: Ultimate Mallet.
N&W A: Not as big a fan of this as most people. In fact I think it is overrated (I.E. people attribute to its design things it couldn't do) but the N&W utilized it to the absolute limit where other more capable engines did not get pushed as hard.
The C&O T-1/ PRR J-1: basically the same engine, revolutionized motive power on the C&O and modernized power on the PRR, lasting longer than the Duplexes designed to replace it.
The AMC Berkshires: (NKP, PM, and C&O). probably the best multifunctional engines ever made.
the NYC Niagara: basically the last major advance in passenger steam with impressive utilization and availability
Milwaukee Road F-7: probably the ultimate Hudson, with most agressive passenger service schedule of basically any train.
Timken 4 Aces: proved the importance and effectiveness of roller bearings in locomotive usage. Also did a lot of work.
Lima A-1. introduced super-power concepts (deep firebox, high horsepower)
UP Challengers: introduced the most popular of the high speed articulated locomotives, copied numerous times
C&O H-1. probably the most successful early mallet, radically improving the C&O's operations over the Allegheny subdivision. provided to the N&W after the failure of their Y-1 and X-1 mallets, and extensively copied with their Z mallets. arguably the originator of the two most successful mallet classes of all time (C&O H1-H6, N&W Z1, and N&W Y2-Y6b)
Oh, its wheel arrangements. Whoops.
Well, all in all you did okay! See you later! LOL
Id say the 4-6-4 hudson type also needs spot on this list as well.
Who would you kick out?
@@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower Probably the 2-8-8-4, they werent too widespread when you think about it. Many railroads had hudson types for passenger services. Unfortunately, the reason why the type is so rare today is because of them being only used really for passenger service, they were some of the first victims of dieselization as passenger services were dieselized much quicker than freight trains.
Really! Okay... Bold.. Yellowstone is a fan favorite. I was thinking you might say the 4-4-0 or the 2-8-8-2
@lroadCrossing-SteamPower Im gauging "Successful" by how many railroads used the type. and the hudson was simply much more prevalent on railroads than the yellowstone.t
@@yeoldeseawitch No problem here. Valid argument.
Good overview, however, the humble 0-6-0 and 2-10-0 would have been worth a mention.
The Russian JS (ИС) class was a Berkshire, with 650 being built from 1932. If you were going to a Soviet labour camp, your train would most likely be pulled by one.
The L&N should've designed their own 4-8-2 Mountain Types while Baldwin or Lima builds them. using the same or similar look on some of the Pacifics and J-2 Mikados.. for their L-1 Mountains instead of USRA. I love the L&N railroad. If you look at other Mountain types from other railroads both extant and in extinct, they re-use that same or similar design for their Mountain Type Locomotives. You can tell that B&O has done that, the PRR has done, and even the NYC.
You get that quite a bit the more you look into origins of designs and want not. I am not surprised by this.
I hope some day steam will make a comeback, return to the rails, and pull freight, and passengers again like they ought.
If ever one were to do so.. These might be the days it happens with scores of governments looking for alternative means when it comes energy and transportation.
@@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower What kind of steam locomotives do you think would be put into use in today's times?
@@AlexThePatriot Well, I would center a locomotive that can burn either hydrogen or at worst Natural gas. However, one of the biggest issues would be derailment safety. The supplying car would have to be armored in my mind..and also redundant cut off valves to cover any kind of disconnection.Otherwise you risk a massive explosion. I think with today's tech we can get enough consistent BTU's to fire a steam locomotive with either fuel source above. Or more likely a turbine that produces power much like a current diesel does. Steam you have to create supporting infrastructure with water in particular. That equals greater cost to implement.
I don't see it happening. There's simply too much maintenance involved for steam locomotives to actually make a meaningful return. There's also water treatment positions required every 100 or so miles. Too many people required for the amount of freight moved.
If they did it wouldn’t be how you and I would like. Modern safety and emissions regulations will spoil and resemblance of steam we know and love.
Outside of the top 10, honorable mentions would be;
4-4-2 Atlantic type, 2-10-0 Decapod (DRB Class 50 is part of this wheel arrangement), 0-10-0 Ten-Coupled, and 4-6-6-4.
The list was based on wheel arrangements.. But yes I can definitely see an argument for the 4-4-2.. I didnt select it because the 4-6-2 was very close to production already by the time the 4-4-2 became used.
I'd replace the 4-8-2 Mountain with the 4-6-4 Hudson type.
Fair enough.
My #1 is the Berkshire
Aesthetically pleasing they are.
The 4-8-2 was considered a MOUNTAIN type not a Mohawk but the Mohawk was called for the NEW YORK CENTRAL
I said that very clearly in the video.
@@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower oh sorry
@@nicholasspisak7600 Me too.. Hadn't had my coffee yet.. I was kinda grouchy
It’s a good list, can’t argue with it. I like the fact you added the Early American 2-4-0 and 2-6-0 engines. -Nice touch 🚂🇺🇸
Thank you very much!
in each wheel arrangement there were good engines and lemons.
True, and some way more than others ;)
Is there a chance to see what your least favorite steam locomotives are?
Right now I have the least successful on the docket.. But yes
Shouldn't a Shay be on this list? Or at least one geared type. I am biased, growing up in WV and going to Cass since I was a kid.
Unfortunately as much as I love the Shay's, they arent mainline operators and overall didnt impact the industry like the mainline types did.
Interesting. I would have ranked the Niagara much higher than you did. Probably the Norfolk and Western J as well.
Okay, which loco's would you boot in favor of those two?
I wouldn't boot any, just rank a bit differently. Both the Niagara and the J ran incredible schedules, and pretty much outdid early diesels.
WHEN you talk about ten wheelers i question your expertise on them as you left out the mention of the most famous one of all and still in operation the Sierra no 3 made by RODGERS and the best looking of them all and western pacific 94 0n display
I cannot mention every last locomotive in every class of them. Unless you want to watch a 5 hour video. This was just a brief list of each, not a feature video of each. !Goodness!
@@TheRailroadCrossing-SteamPower again the most famous
Where are the locos from the rest of the world? Not good enough?
a majority of the list were largely used around the world and in large numbers. And also the list was wheel arrangements, not specific railroad designs.
You really should make your title clear that this is just American locos.........what about the UK, France, Germany, South Africa or even China??
This is misleading
The thumbnail shows only US railroad logos, so you could just, you know, have eyes?
I would/will never clickbait a title of mine. The railroad logo's on the thumbnail more than hints of the content. Also, a large number of the selections are also International exports from the U.S. The video already ran past 12 minutes. I cannot get into serious depth on any one entry.. I would otherwise have a video well over an hour. There are some English designs in particular I will get to.