Most Prevalent Type of Mainline Steam Locomotive Today

Bobby Ogage posted:

What is the most prevalent type of steam locomotive capable of operating in the USA on mainlines today? Consider only those locomotives in a condition needing no more than 6 months of maintenance to be capable legally operating in mainline excursion service.

I think the 2-8-4 Berkshire is the most prevalent: NKP 763; NKP 765; PM 1225; C&O 2716.

Neither the NKP 763, nor the C&O 2716 are even remotely close to being either "overhauled" or operated.

You failed to mention: SP 4449, Milwaukee Road 261, Santa Fe 3751, and UP 844 all of which are capable of main line operation with less than 30 days notice. 

Edit: Forgot to add N&W 611 to the list "capable of main line operation with 30 days or less notice".

Hot Water posted:

Bobby Ogage posted:

What is the most prevalent type of steam locomotive capable of operating in the USA on mainlines today? Consider only those locomotives in a condition needing no more than 6 months of maintenance to be capable legally operating in mainline excursion service.

I think the 2-8-4 Berkshire is the most prevalent: NKP 763; NKP 765; PM 1225; C&O 2716.

Neither the NKP 763, nor the C&O 2716 are even remotely close to being either "overhauled" or operated.

You failed to mention: SP 4449, Milwaukee Road 261, Santa Fe 3751, and UP 844 all of which are capable of main line operation with less than 30 days notice. 

And all of which are 4-8-4s.

Did Mr. Bobby Ogage determine that Berkshires were the "most prevalent" not based on any facts, but simply because that may be his favorite wheel arrangement?

By this liberal concept of mainline locomotives, you might want to add Reading 2100; clearly under active work, has a 1472 cert, etc.  And also a 4-8-4.

bbunge posted:

By this liberal concept of mainline locomotives, you might want to add Reading 2100; clearly under active work, has a 1472 cert, etc.  And also a 4-8-4.

But certainly NOT road worthy with the original poster's "no more than 6 month of maintenance" criteria.

Still, the Northerns seem to have won.

Not the most prevalent, but there are a Mikado and a Consolidation at TVRM that are ready to go.

The caveat of "capable of operation" edict means that it's the 4-8-4 Northern for sure.

611, 261, 844, 4449, 3751... what's the status of 700? Soon to add 2926, 2101 or whatever number the Reading engine is...

Preservation is another story. I think it's pretty close between Northerns and Berks.

2100 and 2102 are being restored. The Reading & Northern is running ex-Gulf, Mobile & Northern 4-6-2 425 (Baldwin, 1928), the largest of three survivors of  Paulsen Spence's Louisiana Eastern.

steam fan posted:

what's the status of 700?

She just was starting her 15-year/1472 day teardown from what I saw of her last weekend...

Seems 4-8-4 is the way to go. Love them all.

steam fan posted:

 

Preservation is another story. I think it's pretty close between Northerns and Berks.

More likely 2-8-0's are the most preserved.  IRM alone has 3 of them.

Rusty

Rusty Traque posted:

steam fan posted:

 

Preservation is another story. I think it's pretty close between Northerns and Berks.

More likely 2-8-0's are the most preserved.  IRM alone has 3 of them.

Rusty

Nope. Apparently the lowly 0-4-0T has been preserved in the highest numbers, at 243, followed in distant second by the 2-8-0, with 186 preserved.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com...try=USA&by=whyte

Wow, Steve, thanks for posting that list. I was surprised at the number of Frisco "Russian Decapods" that had been preserved.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com...10-0&country=USA

SMD4 Wrote:

"Nope. Apparently the lowly 0-4-0T has been preserved in the highest numbers, at 243, followed in distant second by the 2-8-0, with 186 preserved."

That may be the case, but I don't think that many would consider an 0-4-0T, to be a MAINLINE locomotive, as mentioned in the thread title.

The 2-8-0, doesn't surprise me as the most preserved wheel arrangement.

Doug