I was wondering if anyone had any information on why the Western railroads (SP, UP, GN, NP, with the exception of a small group purchased new by the ATSF) did not buy 2-8-4 steam locomotives new? Were 2-8-4s not suited to running on the grades/mountains out west? It seems like after the 2-8-2 and 2-10-2 most Western railroads went to large articulated locomotives for freight hauling, with the exception of the ATSF, which went to 2-10-4s (the ATSF didn't care for articulated locomotives). Was there something about the 2-8-4 wheel arrangement that made it better suited to the Easter railroads? Both the SP and ATSF bought Berkshires second hand from the B&M during WWII for traffic increases but they were quickly retired after the war.
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