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Atlantic Coast Line Steam Locomotives

The classifications given by railroads to their steam locomotive fleets were as varied as the machines themselves with several different designations within a particular class! The Atlantic Coast Line steam locomotives were likewise characterized by a wide range of classes from A to R. In any event, the information here is most certainly not a complete, all-time listing of ACL's steam fleet and also is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the railroad.

The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, also known as the ACL or Coast Line, was synonymous with the South and served points from Richmond, Virginia to Florida and east to Birmingham, Alabama. The railroad was also very profitable being that it served direct north-south routes from Florida to Richmond. It also held one of the most unique paint schemes of any Class I of both its day, having a beautiful purple and silver livery with yellow trim. Remembered in the likes of the Southern Railway in later years the ACL was highly respected throughout most of its existence and like the Southern was blessed with excellent management and never faced any serious bankruptcy (and only entered receivership once during the Depression years of the early 1930s) threat up until its merger with the Seaboard Air Line in the late 1960s to form the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad.

Being that the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad operated in the mostly flat Southeast its steam fleet was built more for speed than power although it roster 2-10-2 Santa Fes and 4-8-4 Northerns, or 1800s as they were known on the ACL. Today, five ACL steam locomotives remain preserved (none in operation) although nothing larger than a 4-6-2 Pacific. For more information on these preserved ACL steamers please click here.

Class A-3

The ACL's Class A-3 included its fleet of 0-4-0 switchers.

Class C

The ACL's Class C included its fleet of 4-4-0 Americans ranging from Class C to C-8.

Class D

The ACL's Class D included more of its fleet of 4-4-0 Americans ranging from Class D to D-7 (save for Class D-1 which were 2-6-0 Moguls).

Class E

The ACL's Class E included its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers and ranged from Class E to E-14 (E-14 of which was 0-8-0 switchers).

Class F

The ACL's Class F included more of its fleet of 4-4-0 Americans ranging from Class F to F-5.

Class G

The ACL's Class G included its fleet of 2-6-0 Moguls ranging from Class G to G-5.

Class H

The ACL's Class H included another small roster of 4-4-0 Americans.

Class I

The ACL's Class I included its fleet of 4-4-2 Atlantics ranging from Class I-1 to I-3 (although Class I-2 were rare 2-4-2 Columbians).

Class J

The ACL's Class J included 4-6-2 Pacifics (Class J) and 4-8-2 Mountains (Class J-1).

Class K

The ACL's Class K was the railroad's largest class and included 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers ranging from Class K to K-16.

Class L

The ACL's Class L included its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations ranging from Class L-1 to L-4.

Class M

The ACL's Class M included its fleet of 2-8-2 Mikados.

Class O

The ACL's Class O included its small roster of 2-10-0 Decapods.

Class P

The ACL's Class P included its fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics ranging from Class P to P-5-B.

Class Q-1

The ACL's Class Q-1 included its roster of 2-10-2 Santa Fes.

Class R-1

The ACL's Class R-1 included its fleet of 4-8-4 1800s.

For much, much more information about Atlantic Coast Line steam locomotives please click here for a complete roster.

For more reading about Atlantic Coast Line steam locomotives you might be interested in the book Atlantic Coast Line Railroad: Steam Locomotives, Ships, and History by author Richard Prince. While the book is a bit pricey it was received excellent reviews and covers in much depth and detail the ACL's steam fleet. If you have any interest in the ACL and its steam locomotives, or would like to learn more about them, you are sure to enjoy this excellent book. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing this book please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".

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