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Lehigh Valley 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 Route of the Black Diamonds was no different and Lehigh Valley Railroad steam locomotives were likewise characterized by a wide range of classes from B to K. In any event, the information here is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the LV and does not go into detail about their specific differences.

The Lehigh Valley Railroad was another of the many Northeastern carriers built to move anthracite coal from eastern Pennsylvania to points east and west (the Great Lakes). So, its motto, Route Of The Black Diamond, was quite befitting. The LV has also gained much interest to those who study American railroading history and the now-fallen flag carriers along the way; likely because of the railroad’s underdog status in the markets it served (Buffalo to New York City).

Interestingly the LV, even though it connected New York City and Buffalo and was a famed anthracite carrier, it did not roster larger than Pacifics (4-6-2s). Today, unfortunately, no LV steam locomotives are known to exist.

Class B

The LV's Class B steam locomotives represented its fleet of 0-4-0 switchers.

Class E

The LV's Class E steam locomotives represented its fleet of 4-4-0 Americans.

Class F

The LV's Class F steam locomotives represented its fleet of 4-4-2 Atlantics ranging from Class F-1 to F-6.

Class G

The LV's Class G steam locomotives represented its fleet of 0-6-0 and 0-6-0T switchers.

Class I-1

The LV's Class I-1 denoted its fleet of 2-6-2 Prairies.

Class J

The LV's Class J steam locomotives included its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers.

Class K

The LV's Class K was its largest class of steam locomotives and designated its huge fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics (in comparison to its steam roster as a whole).

For much more information about Lehigh Valley Railroad steam locomotives please click here to visit North East Rails.

For more on the Lehigh Valley and the steam locomotives it operated you might want to consider a copy of The Lehigh Valley Railroad Across New Jersey by Ralph Heiss from Arcadia Publishing's "Images of Rail" series. The book includes 128 pages of historic photographs of the LV's operations in and around New Jersey.

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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