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Central Vermont Railway 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 Central Vermont Railway steam locomotives also carried several class designations and although the railroad was rather small in size fielded some very large models including 4-8-2 Mountains and 2-10-4 Texas Types. In any event, the information here is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the Central Vermont Railway and does not go into detail about their specific differences.

While the CV did have large steamers like Mountains and Texas Types for heavy drag service in northern New England it tended to rely on smaller wheel arrangements for most tasks such as Ten-Wheelers and Consolidations (along with a few Pacifics). As with the rest of the industry, the CV had retired its steam fleet by the late 1950s in favor of diesel. While none of the railroad's large steam locomotives are known to survive, at least one original CV steamer is known to exist, a 4-6-0 Ten-Wheeler preserved at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont.

Class B

The CV's Class B steam locomotives included 4-4-0 Americans, of which there were two units in the class; B-1-c and B-3-a.

Class D-2-a

The CV's Class D-2-a denoted a single 2-6-0 Mogul.

Class E-7-a

The CV's Class E-7-a denoted a single 2-6-0 Mogul.

Class G-2-a

The CV's Class G-2-a denoted a set of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers.

Class I

The CV's Class I steam locomotives included 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers among three different classes; I-6-b, I-6-c, and I-7-a.

Class K-3-b

The CV's Class K-3-b denoted the railroad's only three 4-6-2 Pacifics.

Class M

The CV's Class M steam locomotives included 2-8-0 Consolidations among two different classes; M-2-a and M-3-a.

Class N-5-a

The CV's Class N-5-a denoted a fleet of sixteen 2-8-0 Consolidations.

Class 0-9-a

The CV's Class 0-9-a were three 0-6-0 switchers.

Class P-1-a

The CV's Class P-1-a were eight 0-8-0 switchers.

Class T-3-a

The CV's Class T-3-a denoted the railroad's fleet of ten 2-10-4 Texas Types.

Class U-1-a

The CV's Class U-1-a denoted the railroad's only four 4-8-2 Mountains.

For much more information about Central Vermont Railway steam locomotives please click here for detailed roster information that covers every steamer the railroad operated.

For more reading on the types of steam locomotives the Central Vermont operated 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.

Also, consider the book American Steam Locomotives from author Brian Solomon. While this publication does not include quite as much technical data as Lamb's book, Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive, it is still a very good resource with lots of information and best of all, is loaded with photographs! 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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