Norfolk & Western 1218 - Roanoke, Va
Posted by: fatcat161
N 37° 16.377 W 079° 56.775
17S E 593423 N 4125672
Located at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Va.
Waymark Code: WM8GAV
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 03/29/2010
Views: 10
Norfolk & Western 1218 at one time was the strongest-pulling operational steam locomotive in the world.
Norfolk & Western 1218 is the sole survivor of the railroad's A class — which many consider to be the finest reciprocating steam locomotives ever built for use in the United States — and indeed the only surviving 2-6-6-4 steam locomotive in the world. While smaller than Union Pacific's famous and more numerous Challenger Class of 4-6-6-4 locomotives, Norfolk and Western's design racked up unmatched records of performance in service.
During 1218's excursion career, it was the strongest-pulling operational steam locomotive in the world, with a tractive effort of 114,000 pounds-force (507.10 kN), well above the next-strongest-pulling operational steam locomotive (Union Pacific 3985, with a tractive effort of 97,350 lbf (433.0 kN)). Despite its high tractive effort for starting heavy trains, it could easily run 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) and more.
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