4-8-0 475
Encyclopedia
Strasburg Rail Road #475 is a former Norfolk & Western Railway M class 4-8-0
steam locomotive
. It was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works
in 1906 as part of the N&W's first order of class M
numbered 450–499. It is the only known 4-8-0 operating in North America.
Consolidation, there was no cab deck behind the backhead, the fireman shoveled coal from the tender deck and, along with the engineer, sat beside the firebox because the firebox came right to the back of the cab. The throttle lever hung down over the shoulder of the firebox, the reverser lever was in front of the engineer against the side of the firebox, with the water glass just above. The injector controls (A water valve, the overflow valve, and the operating lever.) were in front of him against the outer wall of the cab. Although slightly cramped, visibility to the front was superb. On the fireman's side, there was a water glass, injector controls, and a drop seat arranged like the engineer's.
has made several changes to the 475.
4-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels. The type was nicknamed the Mastodon or Twelve-wheeler in North America....
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...
. It was built by the 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...
in 1906 as part of the N&W's first order of class M
N&W "M" Series 4-8-0
The Norfolk and Western Railway's M, M1 and M2 classes were a series of 4-8-0 steam locomotives owned and operated by the Norfolk and Western Railway. These were the last significant deliveries of 4-8-0s in the United States. The N&W needed to get coal shipments over a mountain range, and powerful...
numbered 450–499. It is the only known 4-8-0 operating in North America.
Cab Arrangement
Like the W class 2-8-02-8-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and no trailing wheels...
Consolidation, there was no cab deck behind the backhead, the fireman shoveled coal from the tender deck and, along with the engineer, sat beside the firebox because the firebox came right to the back of the cab. The throttle lever hung down over the shoulder of the firebox, the reverser lever was in front of the engineer against the side of the firebox, with the water glass just above. The injector controls (A water valve, the overflow valve, and the operating lever.) were in front of him against the outer wall of the cab. Although slightly cramped, visibility to the front was superb. On the fireman's side, there was a water glass, injector controls, and a drop seat arranged like the engineer's.
Customizing
The Strasburg Rail RoadStrasburg Rail Road
The Strasburg Rail Road is a heritage railroad located near Strasburg, Pennsylvania. It operates excursion trains hauled by steam locomotives in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.Across the street lies the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania...
has made several changes to the 475.
- Its current tender is an USRA 10,000 gallon tender modified by the Norfolk & WesternNorfolk and Western RailwayThe Norfolk and Western Railway , a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence....
for hand firing, which was originally fitted with an automatic stoker designed for a K-2 class 4-8-24-8-2Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
passenger locomotive. - The left side water leg was trimmed back to give the fireman room to swing his shovel.
- The injectors were relocated from outboard of the No. 4 drivers to aft of them, so they can be operated from controls near the step up to the cab, to the rear of the seats.
- The independent and automatic brake levers have been moved back to be more convenient for backing up operation (Half of its mileage is made backing up.).
- In October 2004, 475 was backdated to its original as-built N&W appearance. Its headlight was relocated to above the center of the smokebox, the tender relettered "Norfolk & Western", and cab letters modified.
- In very late July 2008, 475's tender was re-lettered to "Strasburg" in the same N&W font.
- On February 12th, 2010, 475 was brought out of the shed to plow the nearly 10ft of snow left from two blizzards. That night, "475" was back in N&W appearance, and it was then renumbered to "382", and changed its smokestack and cowcatcher for a Lerro Productions photo charter which took place on Opening Day, February 13th, 2010. The next day it was back as "475" though the N&W appearance remains.
Appearances
This locomotive pulled the Rainbow Sun in the 2000 movie Thomas and the Magic RailroadThomas and the Magic Railroad
Thomas and the Magic Railroad is a 2000 British/American film based on the well-known TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends and the United States TV series Shining Time Station. The film was co-produced by Gullane Entertainment and the Isle of Man Film Commission. It was written, produced...