Union Pacific 4-8-4
Union Pacific class FEF-3 No. 841 stands for a builder's portrait at the American Locomotive Co. in 1944. The 10 FEF-3s were the final steam engines acquired by UP, which still operates one, No. 844, occasionally.
Alco photo
Union Pacific class FEF-3 No. 841 stands for a builder's portrait at the American Locomotive Co. in 1944. The 10 FEF-3s were the final steam engines acquired by UP, which still operates one, No. 844, occasionally.
Alco photo
CN 4-8-4 at Hamilton Junction
Canadian National 4-8-4 6232 swings through Hamilton Junction, Ont., with a passenger extra for Hamilton in 1958, when steam was mostly gone from U.S. main lines but still going strong in parts of Canada.
Philip R. Hastings photo
Canadian National 4-8-4 6232 swings through Hamilton Junction, Ont., with a passenger extra for Hamilton in 1958, when steam was mostly gone from U.S. main lines but still going strong in parts of Canada.
Philip R. Hastings photo
Rock Island 4-8-4 at Joliet
Rock Island class R-67 Northern 5114 has just passed Joliet (Ill.) Union Station and crossed the GM&O/ATSF diamond as it steams toward Chicago with an eastbound freight in fall 1951.
Wallace W. Abbey
Rock Island class R-67 Northern 5114 has just passed Joliet (Ill.) Union Station and crossed the GM&O/ATSF diamond as it steams toward Chicago with an eastbound freight in fall 1951.
Wallace W. Abbey
Santa Fe 4-8-4 being serviced
Hostlers add sand to and hose down the running gear of Santa Fe 4-8-4 3765 at the road's Argentine Yard, Kans., on Nov. 6, 1949.
Wallace W. Abbey photo
Hostlers add sand to and hose down the running gear of Santa Fe 4-8-4 3765 at the road's Argentine Yard, Kans., on Nov. 6, 1949.
Wallace W. Abbey photo
Santa Fe 4-8-4 on the Chief
Santa Fe's Chicago-Los Angeles Chief was given streamlined equipment in the late 1930s, but not regularly dieselized until after World War II, resulting in scenes of unstreamlined steam power such as 4-8-4 No. 3781 climbing the east side of Cajon Pass with No. 19's stainless-steel consist.
F.J. Peterson photo
Santa Fe's Chicago-Los Angeles Chief was given streamlined equipment in the late 1930s, but not regularly dieselized until after World War II, resulting in scenes of unstreamlined steam power such as 4-8-4 No. 3781 climbing the east side of Cajon Pass with No. 19's stainless-steel consist.
F.J. Peterson photo
Big 4-8-4 on the North Western
Chicago & North Western class H-1 4-8-4 3014 roars east near DeKalb, Ill., in spring 1949 with an eastbound mail and express train.
Classic Trains collection
Chicago & North Western class H-1 4-8-4 3014 roars east near DeKalb, Ill., in spring 1949 with an eastbound mail and express train.
Classic Trains collection
Rio Grande 4-8-4 at Denver Union Station
In a pre-World War II view looking east from the 18th Street viaduct over the tracks at Denver Union Station, Rio Grande 4-8-4 No. 1701 stands ready to depart.
Joseph Schick photo
In a pre-World War II view looking east from the 18th Street viaduct over the tracks at Denver Union Station, Rio Grande 4-8-4 No. 1701 stands ready to depart.
Joseph Schick photo
Santa Fe 4-8-4 on the Joint Line
4-8-4 No. 3762, from the Santa Fe's original 3751 class, works a passenger train on the "Joint Line" that the road shared with the Colorado & Southern south of Denver.
Ross Grenard photo
4-8-4 No. 3762, from the Santa Fe's original 3751 class, works a passenger train on the "Joint Line" that the road shared with the Colorado & Southern south of Denver.
Ross Grenard photo
Milwaukee S3 4-8-4 on a freight
Milwaukee Road class S3 Northern 267 rolls stock and refrigerator cars east at Bensenville, Ill., in the 1940s. The 4-8-4 is one of 10 built by Alco for MILW in 1944; sister 261 was restored for excursion service in 1993 and still runs out of Minneapolis.
Classic Trains collection
Milwaukee Road class S3 Northern 267 rolls stock and refrigerator cars east at Bensenville, Ill., in the 1940s. The 4-8-4 is one of 10 built by Alco for MILW in 1944; sister 261 was restored for excursion service in 1993 and still runs out of Minneapolis.
Classic Trains collection
Coast Line 4-8-4 on the Florida Special
Atlantic Coast Line 4-8-4 1803 accelerates the Florida Special south out of Richmond, Va., in 1940.
Wiley M. Bryan photo
Atlantic Coast Line 4-8-4 1803 accelerates the Florida Special south out of Richmond, Va., in 1940.
Wiley M. Bryan photo
Rio Grande 4-8-4 with the Exposition Flyer
The heavyweight Exposition Flyer works west in the upper reaches of South Boulder Canyon about 2 miles east of Pinecliff, Colo., behind 4-8-4 No. 1803 on July 5, 1941.
R.H. Kindig photo
The heavyweight Exposition Flyer works west in the upper reaches of South Boulder Canyon about 2 miles east of Pinecliff, Colo., behind 4-8-4 No. 1803 on July 5, 1941.
R.H. Kindig photo
Water stop for Rio Grande 4-8-4s
Rio Grande 4-8-4s 1704 and 1802 have paused on their climb up the Front Range of the Rockies to take a drink from the water plug at Pinecliff, Colo., on June 22, 1943. The lead engine will help the train as far as the Moffat Tunnel.
Robert A. Le Massena photo
Rio Grande 4-8-4s 1704 and 1802 have paused on their climb up the Front Range of the Rockies to take a drink from the water plug at Pinecliff, Colo., on June 22, 1943. The lead engine will help the train as far as the Moffat Tunnel.
Robert A. Le Massena photo
GTW Northern departs Dearborn
Grand Trunk Western 4-8-4 No. 6330 pulls out of Chicago's Dearborn Station with the Maple Leaf in 1949.
Charles McCreary photo
Grand Trunk Western 4-8-4 No. 6330 pulls out of Chicago's Dearborn Station with the Maple Leaf in 1949.
Charles McCreary photo
NP Northern riding high
Northern Pacific 4-8-4 26511 rumbles high above the Sheyenne River valley as it rolls a freight west at Valley City, North Dakota. The NP in 1926 ordered the first 4-8-4 type locomotives, which were at first dubbed the "Northern Pacific" type, soon shortened to Northern.
Linn H. Westcott photo
Northern Pacific 4-8-4 26511 rumbles high above the Sheyenne River valley as it rolls a freight west at Valley City, North Dakota. The NP in 1926 ordered the first 4-8-4 type locomotives, which were at first dubbed the "Northern Pacific" type, soon shortened to Northern.
Linn H. Westcott photo
CN Mikado and Northern
Canadian National 2-8-2 3457 helps 4-8-4 6145 move a Hamilton-Toronto freight through the junction at Bayview, Ont., in May 1958.
Philip R. Hastings photo
Canadian National 2-8-2 3457 helps 4-8-4 6145 move a Hamilton-Toronto freight through the junction at Bayview, Ont., in May 1958.
Philip R. Hastings photo
CB&Q Northern at Mendota
Burlington Route 4-8-4 No. 5621 on a westbound freight clatters across the Illinois Central diamonds at Mendota, Ill., as it slows for a coal and water stop in September 1954.
Philip R. Hastings photo
Burlington Route 4-8-4 No. 5621 on a westbound freight clatters across the Illinois Central diamonds at Mendota, Ill., as it slows for a coal and water stop in September 1954.
Philip R. Hastings photo
C&O Greenbrier in action
A trackside observer gives a wave to Chesapeake & Ohio class J-3 4-8-4 604, working hard on a heavy passenger train. C&O called its 4-8-4s Greenbriers.
Classic Trains collection
A trackside observer gives a wave to Chesapeake & Ohio class J-3 4-8-4 604, working hard on a heavy passenger train. C&O called its 4-8-4s Greenbriers.
Classic Trains collection
A Dixie on the Dixie Limited
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis eschewed the name "Northern" for its 4-8-4s in favor of the more locally palatable "Dixie." One of the Dixie types nicknamed "Stripes" for their running-board and tender decorations leads the Dixie Limited out of Smyrna, Ga.
Shelby Lowe photo
Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis eschewed the name "Northern" for its 4-8-4s in favor of the more locally palatable "Dixie." One of the Dixie types nicknamed "Stripes" for their running-board and tender decorations leads the Dixie Limited out of Smyrna, Ga.
Shelby Lowe photo
Action in St. Paul
At St. Paul Union Depot, Great Northern 4-8-4 2585 backs down to couple onto the Empire Builder, in from Chicago via the Burlington Route. Getting under way is Omaha Road (a Chicago & North Western affiliate) heavy Pacific 602 with an Omaha-Minneapolis train. Off to the side in this 1945 scene is the union depot company's GE 44-ton diesel, No. 441.
William J. Pontin photo
At St. Paul Union Depot, Great Northern 4-8-4 2585 backs down to couple onto the Empire Builder, in from Chicago via the Burlington Route. Getting under way is Omaha Road (a Chicago & North Western affiliate) heavy Pacific 602 with an Omaha-Minneapolis train. Off to the side in this 1945 scene is the union depot company's GE 44-ton diesel, No. 441.
William J. Pontin photo
Lackawanna's great Pequest Fill
A 4-8-4 leads a freight east across the Lackawanna Railroad's colossal Pequest Fill. At more than 3 miles long, Pequest was a major feature of the road's 28.5-mile cutoff across the rough terrain of northern New Jersey. The line below is the Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad.
Wayne Brumbaugh photo
A 4-8-4 leads a freight east across the Lackawanna Railroad's colossal Pequest Fill. At more than 3 miles long, Pequest was a major feature of the road's 28.5-mile cutoff across the rough terrain of northern New Jersey. The line below is the Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad.
Wayne Brumbaugh photo
Sedalia celebration
Workers at Missouri Pacific's Sedalia (Mo.) shops line up in a "V for victory" formation in August 1942 in a ceremony to commemorate the last of 25 Sedalia-built 4-8-4s.
Missouri Pacific photo
Workers at Missouri Pacific's Sedalia (Mo.) shops line up in a "V for victory" formation in August 1942 in a ceremony to commemorate the last of 25 Sedalia-built 4-8-4s.
Missouri Pacific photo
Niagara with NYC's New England States
New York Central 4-8-4 No. 6007 departs Chicago's La Salle Street Station with the New England States for Cleveland, Buffalo, and Boston in October 1950.
Bob Borcherding photo
New York Central 4-8-4 No. 6007 departs Chicago's La Salle Street Station with the New England States for Cleveland, Buffalo, and Boston in October 1950.
Bob Borcherding photo
Powhatan Arrow on display
Norfolk & Western class J 4-8-4 No. 609 stands with a set of new cars for the Powhatan Arrow at Williamson, W.Va., during a 1950 display tour.
N&W photo
Norfolk & Western class J 4-8-4 No. 609 stands with a set of new cars for the Powhatan Arrow at Williamson, W.Va., during a 1950 display tour.
N&W photo
San Joaquin Daylight near Tehachapi
A Daylight 4-8-4 and a 4-8-2 doublehead the Los Angeles-bound San Joaquin Daylight upgrade at Allard, Calif., a dozen miles north of famous Tehachapi Loop, in May 1953.
W.E. Malloy Jr. photo
A Daylight 4-8-4 and a 4-8-2 doublehead the Los Angeles-bound San Joaquin Daylight upgrade at Allard, Calif., a dozen miles north of famous Tehachapi Loop, in May 1953.
W.E. Malloy Jr. photo
Rock Island 4-8-4
The pride of the Rock Island, 4-8-4 No. 5107, poses for a publicity picture in Topeka, Kan., in 1944.
RI photo
The pride of the Rock Island, 4-8-4 No. 5107, poses for a publicity picture in Topeka, Kan., in 1944.
RI photo
The First 4-8-4
Looming out of the mist and into the history books is Northern Pacific class A No. 2600 - the first of 1,125 North American Northern type locomotives.
Willard W. Marsh photo
Looming out of the mist and into the history books is Northern Pacific class A No. 2600 - the first of 1,125 North American Northern type locomotives.
Willard W. Marsh photo
Northern Pacific 4-8-4 at Missoula
The ultimate steam passenger power was the 4-8-4 Northern type, introduced by the Northern Pacific in 1927 and named for that railroad. No. 2682 was a member of class A-5 built by Baldwin in 1943, completing the NP's roster of 49 Northerns. It's shown at Missoula, Mont., on April 25, 1946, with a passenger extra.
R.V. Nixon photo
The ultimate steam passenger power was the 4-8-4 Northern type, introduced by the Northern Pacific in 1927 and named for that railroad. No. 2682 was a member of class A-5 built by Baldwin in 1943, completing the NP's roster of 49 Northerns. It's shown at Missoula, Mont., on April 25, 1946, with a passenger extra.
R.V. Nixon photo
Rio Grande 4-8-4
Beautifully turned-out Denver & Rio Grande Western class M-64 dual-service Northern 1702 (Baldwin 1929) glistens at Denver in March 1940.
R. H. Kindig photo
Servicing a CN 4-8-4
The engineer and fireman in the cab of Canadian National 4-8-4 6179 wait for men on the ground to finish their work on the engine so it can depart Riviere du Loup, Quebec, with the Maritime Express in October 1954.
Philip R. Hastings photo
The engineer and fireman in the cab of Canadian National 4-8-4 6179 wait for men on the ground to finish their work on the engine so it can depart Riviere du Loup, Quebec, with the Maritime Express in October 1954.
Philip R. Hastings photo
Burlington 4-8-4 gets going
Burlington Route 4-8-4 No. 5621 raises a tower of coal smoke while trying to restart a 110-car westbound freight after a water stop at Mendota, Ill., in September 1954.
Philip R. Hastings
Burlington Route 4-8-4 No. 5621 raises a tower of coal smoke while trying to restart a 110-car westbound freight after a water stop at Mendota, Ill., in September 1954.
Philip R. Hastings
