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Boston and Maine 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 Boston and Maine steam locomotives also carried several class designations ranging from A to T and although the railroad was only regional in size fielded some massive designs such as 2-6-6-2s and 2-10-2s. In any event, the information here is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the B&M and does not go into detail about their specific differences.

Aside from the Boston & Maine's 2-6-6-2 heavy articulateds and 2-10-2 Santa Fes it also rostered a bevy of 4-6-2 Pacifics (which became the staple of the fleet), as well as 2-8-2 Mikados and 2-8-4 Berkshires. While the B&M's fleet of large steamers proved its worth in moving freight over the rugged mountains of northern New England, the railroad had dropped the fires on its steam fleet by the 1950s. While none of the railroad's large steam locomotives are known to survive, a few Pacifics and several others do. For more information about these surviving locomotives please click here.

Class A

The B&M's Class A steam locomotives were 4-4-0 Americans and ranged from Class A-13 to A-47.

Class B

The B&M's Class B steam locomotives were 2-6-0 Moguls and ranged from Class B-10 to B-15.

Class C

The B&M's Class C steam locomotives were 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers and ranged from Class C-3-b to C-21.

Class D-2

The B&M's Class D-2 steam locomotives were 0-4-4T switchers.

Class E

The B&M's Class E steam locomotives were 2-6-4T designs and included Class E-1-a and E-1-b.

Class F

The B&M's Class F steam locomotives were 0-4-0 switchers and included Class F-5, F-8 (0-4-0T), and F-9.

Class G

The B&M's Class G steam locomotives were 0-6-0 switchers and included Class G-3 to G-11-c.

Class J-1

The B&M's Class J-1 steam locomotives included the railroad only fleet of 4-4-2 Atlantics.

Class K

The B&M's Class K steam locomotives were 2-8-0 Consolidations and included Class K-5 to Class K-8.

Class L-1

The B&M's Class L-1 steam locomotives designated the railroad's only fleet of 4-8-0 "Twelve-Wheelers".

Class M

The B&M's Class M steam locomotives designated the railroad's heavy articulateds and included Class M-1 (2-6-6-2s) and Class M-2 (0-8-8-0s).

Class N-1

The B&M's Class N-1 designated the railroad's only fleet of 2-8-2 Mikados.

Class P

The B&M's Class P steam locomotives were 4-6-2 Pacifics ranging from Class P-1 to Class P-5.

Class R-1

The B&M's Class R-1 designated the railroad's only roster of 4-8-2 Mountains.

Class S-1

The B&M's Class S-1 denoted the railroad's fleet of 2-10-2 Texas Types and included Class S-1-a and Class S-1-c.

Class T-1

The B&M's Class T-1 designated the railroad's only roster of 2-8-4 Berkshires.

For much more information about Boston and Maine steam locomotives please click here to see a comprehensive listing.

For more on the B&M you may want to consider Boston & Maine Trains and Services from author Bruce Heald. The book is 128 pages in length and not only offers a well-written history of the B&M system itself but also goes into detail (to some extent) of the overall growth of the New England railroad industry from its earliest beginnings to the "golden age" of the region. Of note, the book also covers, to a general extent, the railroad's steam locomotives as well. If you have any interest in the B&M you will likely find this book quite interesting.

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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