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Jersey Central Railroad 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 Jersey Central Railroad steam locomotives were likewise scattered among a wide range of classes. In any event, the information here is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the CNJ and does not go into detail about their specific differences.

The Central Railroad of New Jersey never rostered any large steam locomotives (such as articulateds) but then again it never really needed to since it operated through territory not excessively steep (it's largest steam locomotives were 2-8-2 Mikados, which could handle the stiffest of grades). As of today, there are three known CNJ steam locomotives still surviving, although not all are preserved. For more information about these surviving CNJ locomotives please click here.

Class A1

CNJ's Class A1 denoted a single 0-4-0T switcher (after 1945 the unit was redesignated as Class 4S22).

Class B

CNJ's Class B designated its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers that ranged from Class B1 to Class B6a (after 1945 the switchers were redesignated as Class 6S).

Class C

CNJ's Class C designated its fleet of 2-6-0 Moguls that ranged from Class C1 to Class C3.

Class D

CNJ's Class D designated its fleet of 4-4-0 Americans that ranged from Class D1 to Class D9.

Class E

CNJ's Class E designated its fleet of 0-8-0 switchers that ranged from Class E1 to E4sa (after 1945 the switchers were redesignated as Class 8S).

Class G

CNJ's Class G designated its fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics that ranged from Class G1s to Class G3s (after 1945 the Pacifics were redesignated Class P).

Class H1s

CNJ's Class H1s designated its fleet of 4-6-4Ts, of which the railroad owned six models (after 1945 these units were redesignated as Class SU31).

Class I

CNJ's Class I designated its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations that ranged from Class I1 to Class I5 (after 1945 some of the Consolidations were redesignated as Class C44).

Class J1

CNJ's Class J1 designated its fleet of 2-6-2Ts, of which the railroad owned 25 units (after 1945 these units were redesignated as Class SU23).

Class K1

CNJ's Class K1 designated its fleet of rare 4-8-0 "Twelve-Wheelers", of which the railroad owned 51 units (after 1945 the Twelve-Wheelers were redesignated as Class TW40).

Class L

CNJ's Class L designated its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers that ranged from Class Lx to Class L8s (after 1945 some were redesignated as Class T).

Class M

CNJ's Class M designated its fleet of 2-8-2 Mikados that ranged from Class M1s to Class M3as (after 1945 the Mikados were redesignated but still under the M Class).

Class P

CNJ's Class P designated its fleet of 4-4-2 Atlantics that ranged from Class P1 to Class P8 (after 1945 some were redesignated as Class A).

For a much more in-depth look at Jersey Central Railroad steam locomotives please click here, which also includes an entire gallery of photographs.

For more on the Central Railroad of New Jersey you may want to consider Jersey Central Steam In Color from Bert Pennypacker which gives a superb pictorial history of the railroad's steam operation, all of which, of course, is in color. If you have any interest in the CNJ and/or its steam operations you will likely find this book quite interesting. Also, 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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