Norfolk And Western 4-8-4

First introduced in 1926 by the Northern Pacific, the 4-8-4 or ' Northern' type became for most American railroads the standard heavy passenger locomotive; the New York Central examples, known as Niagaras, were famous for the extensive comparative trials carried out in competition with the then-new diesels, while most of the few steam engines retained in the U.S.A. for enthusiasts' ' specials ' are of this type.

The Norfolk & Western Railway Class ' J' locomotives were unusual in being built in the company's own shops at Roanoke; the gradients on the main line, among them the climb over Blue Ridge, include 30 miles at an average of 1 in 120 with the last 5 miles at 1 in 70, and the 'J' class were designed to haul 900-ton expresses over this route. With 27 in. x32 in. cylinders and 300lb boiler pressure, they had a tractive effort of 80,000 lb., and their performance included speeds above 100 m.p.h hauling 1,350-ton trains.

Numbered 600-613, fourteen of these fine streamlined engines were built between 1941 and 1950. Severa 4-8-2S built by ALCO and Baldwin soon after the first war were rebuilt in 1945 and fitted with a streamlined casing almost identical with the ' J' class. Our picture shows No. 607 one of six constructed in 1943. heading the ' Powhatan Arrow ' between Norfolk and Cincinnatti. shortly before diesel traction replaced steam in the summer of 1958.