Most Popular 20th Century Steam Locomotive?

PRR D5  numbers in the thousands?  turn of the last century though

A quick look at Wikipedia for the PRR D5 indicates that the class comprised 18 engines (although there were more in different subclasses of these 4-4-0's).

Perhaps you were referring to the 4-4-0 "American" type, in general. I believe the "American" type was the most common locomotive of the 19th Century in the United States, and perhaps

the most numerous ever (but not sure).

Freight? Passenger? Switch engine?

The 2-8-2 was the most common freight engine in the 20th century, but wasn't the most numerous overall.

There were about 25,000 4-4-0 Americans built.

The 2-8-0 was the most common steam locomotive in the U.S.

Rusty

Quoting Linn Westcott from Model Railroader Cyclopedia - Volume 1: Steam Locomotives, "More Mikados were built then any other type of locomotive with a trailing truck -- in all, about 10,000 for use on lines in the U.S."  According to Wikipedia, the Russian Class E 0-10-0 (no trailing truck) was the most numerous steam locomotive, both in that country and in the world, with over 11,000 constructed in total.

The first 2-8-2's were built in 1897 by Baldwin for export to Japan, hence called "Mikado." They became popular in the U.S. following delivery by ALCo of some engines of this wheel arrangement to the Northern Pacific in 1904.

Rusty Traque posted:

The 2-8-0 was the most common steam locomotive in the U.S.

Rusty

From Steamlocomotive.com

The Consolidation became the principal hauler on most main lines. More "Consolidations" were built than any other wheel arrangement. Roughly 23,000 were built for use in the USA and 12,000 for export. Relatively small fireboxes and driver no larger than 63 inches limited both steaming capacity and speed.

I'll go with "Popular" as in the OP.  Of course, that would be an (iron) horse race between the Southern Pacific Daylight GS-4, and The Norfolk & Western J Class... No one could disagree with those two choices, could they?  

Eight coupled locos were definitely popular in all areas but I'd argue that 6 coupled locos were most popular for passenger operations.

Wow -- 23,000 Consols. I wonder how accurate the various sources are that we are quoting. 

For instance, I found another link online that claims 33,000 Consolidations were produced; but no attribution is given for any of the production numbers I have found, either online or in print, so it's hard to know what to believe with respect to these very successful engines. With a PRR duplex like the S-1, it's easy: total production = 1.

To me, there would be a difference between "most popular" and "most built".  Popularity can be measured in how visible a locomotive is, if it became the face of a railroad, etc.

If in terms of popularity, I'm going to vote for the 4-4-0 "American Standard" style.  It shows up on images used for lots of things relating to trains, was responsible for most of the motive power during the growth of the US, the wheel arrangement was even revered in Europe for general use.

Just behind that I would say a 4-6-2 "Pacific".  Used for premier passenger trains around the world, seen by a lot of people and quite a few railroads put a lot of PR material out using their Pacifics as the example.

Thanks for all your comments and great info.

Does anyone know what type steam locomotive pulled the most ton-miles (tons of freight over miles traveled)? As I reflect on the thread, I should have added "ton-miles", but considering the varied answers, I learned more through your posts.

B Smith posted:

Wow -- 23,000 Consols. I wonder how accurate the various sources are that we are quoting. 

I wanted the 4-4-0 American to win... this can't be. I demand a recount and I'll p-ss and moan until I get one... or I may cause a riot and destroy property. Doesn't matter as long as I get my way. No way I'm going to accept the results.

laming posted:

B Smith posted:

Wow -- 23,000 Consols. I wonder how accurate the various sources are that we are quoting. 

I wanted the 4-4-0 American to win... this can't be. I demand a recount and I'll p-ss and moan until I get one... or I may cause a riot and destroy property. Doesn't matter as long as I get my way. No way I'm going to accept the results.

There ya go!!!!   Certainly in keeping with the times.

Besides, I don't think that the "most popular" is a fair category as compared to the "most useful" when specified to specific eras. 

I made a mistake in my first post. it should have been a PRR H class which is a  consolidation.  It replaced all the American, and mogul types as car weights increased.   According to The Keystone, vol35, #3, Autumn 2002  before 1927 PRR had over 2000 in service and this does not include branch line ownership at that time.  In the Midwest CNW had a large number of consolidations as well. I have to vote the consolidation.  PRR Atlantics could hustle some cars along as well but were replaced by the K4s due to train length,weight as well.  I believe our confusion comes from not having lived thru that period. the turn of the last century is beyond most of our grasp.

laming posted:

B Smith posted:

Wow -- 23,000 Consols. I wonder how accurate the various sources are that we are quoting. 

I wanted the 4-4-0 American to win... this can't be. I demand a recount and I'll p-ss and moan until I get one... or I may cause a riot and destroy property. Doesn't matter as long as I get my way. No way I'm going to accept the results.

They did win. See my post above.