Originally Posted by WestinghouseEMDdemoguy:
But what are the A's?
The A was designed, built, and run by the N&W. It is a 2-6-6-4 and arguably the finest steam engine ever built! It ran fast freight, heavy passenger, and double headed on drags.
The sole remaining example is the 1218 currently at the Va Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Va.
Here's a great picture of the Lionel 1218 A. You can see the doghouse on the tender.