[?] Subscribe To
This Site

Kansas City Southern 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! Kansas City Southern steam locomotives were likewise distinguished by a wide range of classes from D to S. In any event, the information here is most certainly not a complete, all-time listing of KCS's steam fleet and also is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the railroad.

The Kansas City Southern Railway, better known as simply the KCS, may be our country�s smallest Class I railroad in terms of route miles, surrounded by the other four giants Union Pacific, BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, and Norfolk Southern (six including the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific). However, the railroad is the second oldest Class I still in operation, next to the Union Pacific, and its history dates back to the late 19th century. Other than the Union Pacific, the KCS is the only remaining Class I railroad whose name has never changed prior to the diesel era. In recent years the railroad has witnessed substantial growth by acquiring four different railroads, two of which are located in Mexico.

The KCS operated a wide range of steam locomotives with its largest types including 2-10-4 Texas', 2-10-2 Santa Fes, 2-8-8-0 Mallets. Today, none of these large steamers survive and only one overall is known to exist, a little 0-8-0 switcher on display in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Class D-25

The KCS's Class D-25 included its roster of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers.

Class E

The KCS's Class E included its roster of 2-8-0 Consolidations.

Class F-2

The KCS's Class F-2 included its roster of 0-6-0 switchers.

Class G

The KCS's Class G included its fleet of Mallets, 0-6-6-0s and 2-8-8-0s.

Class H

The KCS's Class H included its roster of 4-6-2 Pacifics.

Class J

The KCS's Class J included its roster of 2-10-4 Texas Types.

Class K

The KCS's Class K included its roster of 0-8-0 switchers.

Class L

The KCS's Class L included its roster of 2-10-2 Santa Fes.

Class M-22

The KCS's Class M-22 included its roster of 2-8-2 Mikados.

For complete roster information regarding Kansas City Southern steam locomotives please click here.

For a deeper look into the Kansas City Southern and for a look at some of its steam locomotive fleet you might want to consider Kansas City Southern in Color from Jim Boyd who has featured his superb photography in several different books on a wide range of railroading subjects. If you have an interest in the KCS and its history I'm sure you will find this book very interesting. 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".

footer for kansas city southern steam locomotives page