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Steam Locomotives of the Great Northern (GN)[Inhalt]
Great Northern (US) class L-3
later classes M-1 and M-2
United States | 1909
35 produced
flickr/Twin Ports Rail History

In order to prevent individual chassis groups from slipping on slow freight trains, the Great Northern ordered a Mallet with unequal axle distribution. The front group consisted of a leading axle and three driving axles, while the rear group consisted of four driving axles. After ten locomotives from 1909, another 25 followed, which had a significantly larger tube heating area. Under the new scheme, they were designated class M-1.

They were converted to simple expansion to save complexity from 1926 and were designated class M-2. The rear cylinders remained slightly larger in order to be able to convert enough power for the additional driving axle. The existing feedwater heater was also removed. The locomotives had a choppy running that made speeds over 25 mph (40 km/h) difficult to run. 22 were scrapped from 1929 and their parts used for new O-7 class Mikados, while the remaining 13 partially survived until 1954.

Variantfirst seriessecond seriesrebuilt M-2
General
Built190919101926-1928
ManufacturerBaldwinGreat Northern
Axle config2-6-8-0 (Mallet) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase43 ft 11 in
Rigid wheelbase12 ft 6 in15 ft
Total wheelbase76 ft 2 1/2 in85 ft 5 in
Service weight368,700 lbs403,000 lbs
Adhesive weight350,000 lbs384,000 lbs
Total weight522,800 lbs583,000 lbs
Axle load51,400 lbs50,000 lbs56,000 lbs
Water capacity8,000 us gal10,000 us gal
Fuel capacity26,000 lbs (coal)4,500 us gal (oil)
Boiler
Grate area78 sq ft
Firebox area225 sq ft258 sq ft
Tube heating area3,059 sq ft3,525 sq ft4,982 sq ft
Evaporative heating area3,284 sq ft3,750 sq ft5,240 sq ft
Superheater area480 sq ft579 sq ft1,490 sq ft
Total heating area3,764 sq ft4,329 sq ft6,730 sq ft
Variantfirst seriessecond seriesrebuilt M-2
Power Plant
Driver diameter55 in
Boiler pressure200 psi210 psi
Expansion typecompoundsimple
Cylindersfour, HP: 23 x 32 in
and LP: 35 x 32 in
four, front: 22 x 32 in
rear: 23 1/2 x 32 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power2,350 hp (1,752 kW)2,500 hp (1,864 kW)2,900 hp (2,163 kW)
Optimal speed20 mph22 mph18 mph
Starting effort73,085 lbf107,620 lbf
with start valve87,702 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
Mallet
Articulated
last changed: 03/2023
Great Northern (US) class P-1
United States | 1914
15 produced
No. 1755 on a works photo
No. 1755 on a works photo
Ron Ziel, „American Locomotives 1858 to 1949”

The Great Northern was one of the first railroads in the United States to order Mountain locomotives. The manufacturer Lima saw these as Mikados, which had a two-axle forward bogie for better running characteristics in passenger service. The Great Northern wanted to use the P-1 to eliminate the need for helpers on passenger trains in Montana and the Cascades.

They had a conical boiler with a Belpaire firebox. The first ten P-1s were coal-fired and the last five were oil-fired. The diameter of the drivers was only 62 inches or 1,575 mm, which was an advantage on the steep lines. The speed of passenger trains was now 20 mph (32 km/h) on the 1.8 percent in Montana and 15 mph (24 km/h) on the 2.2 percent in the Cascades, both without helpers.

When these locomotives were no longer sufficient to meet the increased requirements, in 1928 all P-1s were rebuilt into 2-10-2 freight locomotives and designated class Q-2. The drivers and the cylinder diameter were each increased by one inch. The boiler only remained the same on the outside and had many changes on the inside, as well as a higher pressure. They were all coal-fired, but nine were converted to oil in the 1940s. Their decommissioning began in the 1950s and was completed in April 1958.

VariantP-1rebuilt Q-2
General
Built19141928
ManufacturerLimaSt. Paul
Axle config4-8-2 (Mountain) 2-10-2 (Santa Fé) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase38 ft31 ft 4 in
Rigid wheelbase16 ft 9 in22 ft
Total wheelbase71 ft 4 in83 ft 6 1/2 in
Service weight326,000 lbs364,000 lbs
Adhesive weight218,000 lbs290,000 lbs
Total weight487,000 lbs679,600 lbs
Axle load55,000 lbs58,000 lbs
Water capacity8,000 us gal17,000 us gal
Fuel capacity30,000 lbs (coal)5,800 us gal (oil)
Boiler
Grate area78 sq ft
Firebox area340 sq ft362 sq ft
Tube heating area4,200 sq ft4,463 sq ft
Evaporative heating area4,540 sq ft4,825 sq ft
Superheater area975 sq ft1,184 sq ft
Total heating area5,515 sq ft6,009 sq ft
VariantP-1rebuilt Q-2
Power Plant
Driver diameter62 in63 in
Boiler pressure180 psi210 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 28 x 32 intwo, 29 x 32 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power3,200 hp (2,386 kW)4,000 hp (2,983 kW)
Optimal speed33 mph
Starting effort61,911 lbf76,251 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
passenger
freight
last changed: 04/2024
Great Northern (US) class L-1
United States | 1906
25 produced
No. 1917 around 1920 at Wellington, Washington
No. 1917 around 1920 at Wellington, Washington
Curtiss Miller / collection Taylor Rush

The first Mallet with the 2-6-6-2 wheel arrangement was the L-1 class of the Great Northern. They were created in 1906 by adding a leading and a trailing axle to the 0-6-6-0 in order to improve running in curves. They were used as helpers in the Cascades. After the first five, 20 more followed in 1908 after the L-2, which had been delivered in the meantime, turned out to be too light. The class Z of the Northern Pacific was identical to these.

Although they had a Belpaire firebox, its heating surface was very small compared to the total heating surface. At least two L-1s received a superheater around 1915, and they also received significantly larger high-pressure cylinders. However, as early as 1925 and 1926, all L-1s were rebuilt to class O-6 Mikados, which remained in use until the mid-1950s.

General
Built1906, 1908
ManufacturerBaldwin
Axle config2-6-6-2 (Mallet Mogul) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase44 ft 10 in
Rigid wheelbase10 ft
Total wheelbase73 ft 2 in
Service weight355,000 lbs
Adhesive weight316,000 lbs
Total weight503,000 lbs
Axle load52,667 lbs
Water capacity8,000 us gal
Fuel capacity26,000 lbs (coal)
Boiler
Grate area78 sq ft
Firebox area225 sq ft
Tube heating area5,433 sq ft
Evaporative heating area5,658 sq ft
Total heating area5,658 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter55 in
Boiler pressure200 psi
Expansion typecompound
Cylindersfour, HP: 21 1/2 x 32 in
and LP: 33 x 32 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power2,500 hp (1,864 kW)
Optimal speed25 mph
Starting effort64,193 lbf
with start valve77,032 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
freight
Mallet
last changed: 02/2024
Great Northern (US) class S-2
United States | 1930
14 produced
No. 2576 in front of 2579 im September 1946 in St. Paul, Minnesota
No. 2576 in front of 2579 im September 1946 in St. Paul, Minnesota
Len Hillyard / collection Taylor Rush

Compared to the S-1, the locomotives of the S-2 class received larger driving wheels with a diameter of 80 inches, as they were only intended for express trains. They also burned oil and now had cylinders measuring 29 by 29 inches. They showed up more than 50,000 pounds less on the scales thanks to a smaller boiler. Since the adhesive weight was also reduced as a result, the locomotives slipped more quickly when starting and had to be operated with great care. Nevertheless, from 1949 they were no longer needed for express trains such as the “Empire Builder” and also had to pull freight trains.

General
Built1930
ManufacturerBaldwin
Axle config4-8-4 (Northern) 
Gauge4 ft 8 1/2 in (Standard gauge)
Dimensions and Weights
Wheelbase47 ft 9 in
Rigid wheelbase20 ft 9 in
Total wheelbase91 ft 2 in
Service weight420,900 lbs
Adhesive weight247,300 lbs
Total weight747,460 lbs
Axle load61,825 lbs
Water capacity17,250 us gal
Fuel capacity5,800 us gal (oil)
Boiler
Grate area97.8 sq ft
Firebox area401 sq ft
Tube heating area4,380 sq ft
Evaporative heating area4,781 sq ft
Superheater area2,265 sq ft
Total heating area7,046 sq ft
Power Plant
Driver diameter80 in
Boiler pressure225 psi
Expansion typesimple
Cylinderstwo, 29 x 29 in
Power
Power sourcesteam
Estimated power4,500 hp (3,356 kW)
Optimal speed49 mph
Starting effort58,305 lbf
Calculated Values
steam locomotive
express
last changed: 04/2023
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