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Bessemer and Lake Erie 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 Bessemer and Lake Erie steam locomotives similarly had multiple designations for its fleet although the railroad only owned a handful of general wheel arrangements. The information here is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the B&LE and does not go into detail about their specific differences.

Unlike its sister road the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range, the B&LE never owned large articulateds like the DM&IR's Yellowstones. However, the Bessemer did own large 2-10-2 Santa Fes and 2-10-4 Texas Types. For the B&LE, steam ended quickly as the railroad had retired its entire fleet by late 1952. However, thankfully at least two examples of the railroad's steamers survive, a 2-8-0 Consolidation and a 2-10-4 Texas. For more information about these surviving steam locomotives please click here.

Class C

The B&LE's Class C steam locomotives were 2-8-0 Consolidations ranging from Class C1 to Class C4.

Class D

The B&LE's Class D steam locomotives were 2-10-2 Santa Fes and included Class D1 and D2.

Class E

The B&LE's Class E steam locomotives were 4-4-0 American Types ranging from Class E1 to Class E5.

Class H1

The B&LE's Class H1 steam locomotives were its lone fleet of 2-10-4 Texas Types.

Class M

The B&LE's Class M steam locomotives were 2-6-0 Moguls and included Class M1 to M3.

Class P1

The B&LE's Class P1 steam locomotives were its lone fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics.

Class S

The B&LE's Class S steam locomotives were 0-6-0 switchers and included Class S1 to S3.

Class T

The B&LE's Class T steam locomotives were 4-6-0 Ten-wheelers ranging from Class T1 to T3.

For much more information about Bessemer and Lake Erie steam locomotives please click here.

For more reading on the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad you might want to consider purchasing a copy of Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad by author Kenneth Springirth. The book gives an excellent pictorial and general history of the railroad (with informative accompanying captions), and is published by Arcadia Publishing (one of the leading publishers of history books). If you have any interest in the Bessemer & Lake Erie or are interested in learning more about its operations you should very much enjoy Mr. Springirth’s book.

Also consider Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive by author J. Parker Lamb. As the name implies the book details the earliest history of steam engine technology, even before it was used in railroad applications. His book later explores the development of steam locomotive technology in the United States from the 19th through the 20th centuries, covering not only the most popular steam locomotive designs but also the most successful manufactures to build them. The book has received excellent reviews and is a great resource on steam locomotives and a fine reference tool; you should find it very useful. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing either (or both) of these books please visit the links below which will take you to ordering information through Amazon.com, the trusted online shopping network.

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