The Pennsylvania Railroads class L2s were a class of USRA Light Mikado

USRA Light Mikado

The USRA Light Mikado was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I...

s rebuilt to Pennsylvania Railroad specifications.

History

After World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

, the Pennsylvania Railroad need a lighter 2-8-2

2-8-2

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...

 type 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...

 to handle lighter freight trains on the system, especially after World War II. So, the Pennsylvania Railroad decided to get steam locomotives from the United States Railroad Administration. The L2s were in their later years, rebuilt to specifications that the Pennsylvania Railroad used on all its freight steam locomotives. (High headlamp, oval numberplate and Belpaire firebox

Belpaire firebox

The Belpaire firebox is a type of firebox used on steam locomotives. It was invented by Alfred Belpaire of Belgium. It has a greater surface area at the top of the firebox, improving heat transfer and steam production...

.) After these rebuilds they looked like the Pennsylvania Railroads class L1s 2-8-2

2-8-2

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...

s.

Retirement

As heavier trains on the Pennsylvania Railroad became a reality, the Pennsylvania Railroad needed a heavier steam locomotive to handle a freight train on the system, so the L2s was demoted to smaller services and eventually retirement, when engines like the J1

J1

J1, J01, J.I, J-I or J-1 may refer to:* J-I rocket, a Japanese solid rocket expendable launch vehicle* J1 type submarine, a WWII Imperial Japanese Navy cruiser submarines class* HMS J1, a WWI British submarine...

and in later years, diesels replaced them too.