Perhaps the classic branch line N&W steam locomotive in the late steam era were the M, M1, and M2 4-8-0 mastodons. O Winston Link did a color photo study of the breed operating on the Abingdon, VA branch to Jefferson City NC. Nicknamed the Virginia Creeper I assume for it's slow pace. Today the branch's right of way is the core of the state's Virginia Creeper bike trail (I've ridden it many times). One of the N&W 4-8-0 s (433) sits under a shelter at the trailhead in Abingdon. A sister locomotive 475 powers steam trains on the Strasburg RR. Sunset 3rd Rail recently imported brass 2 and 3 rail scale models of the M (info corrected thanks Jim and HW) .
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