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Louisville and Nashville 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 Louisville and Nashville Railroad steam locomotives were likewise characterized by a wide range of from B to M. In any event, the information here is most certainly not a complete, all-time listing of L&N's steam fleet and also is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the railroad.

The Louisville and Nashville, a railroad synonymous with the southern states and southeastern US, served major cities from New Orleans and Memphis to St. Louis, Atlanta, and later Chicago. The L&N is also one of the few classic fallen flags to never have had its original chartered name changed at any point throughout its history, serving its home state and the southeast for over 120 years known as simply the Louisville & Nashville. While the railroad would become part of the burgeoning CSX system it was a highly respected and well-known transportation company for much of its existence.

It's interesting that even though the L&N was a rather large Class I of its day and operated through the heart of the Appalachians it did not roster any types larger than 2-8-4 Berkshires and mostly used Mikados, Pacifics, and Mountains. Today, several L&N steamers survive including two Berkshires and a Pacific.

Class B

The L&N's Class B included its roster of 0-6-0 switchers ranging from Class B-0 to B-12.

Class C

The L&N's Class C included its roster of 0-8-0 switchers.

Class D

The L&N's Class D included its larger roster of 4-4-0 Americans ranging from Class D-0 to D-21.

Class F

The L&N's Class F included its roster of 2-6-0 Moguls ranging from Class F-0 to F-8.

Class G

The L&N's Class G included its roster of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers ranging from Class G-0 to G-18.

Class H

The L&N's Class H included its large roster of 2-8-0 Consolidations ranging from Class H-0 to H-29.

Class J

The L&N's Class J included its roster of 2-8-2 Mikados ranging from Class J-1 to J-5.

Class K

The L&N's Class K included its roster of 4-6-2 Pacifics ranging from Class K-1 to K-7.

Class L-1

The L&N's Class L-1 was the railroad's lone roster of 4-8-2 Mountains.

Class M-1

The L&N's Class M-1 was the railroad's lone fleet of 2-8-4 Berkshires.

For complete roster information regarding Louisville and Nashville Railroad steam locomotives please click here.

For more reading on the L&N consider History of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad by Maury Klein, as well. With over 500 pages the book covers in vivid detail the entire history of the L&N and is a must for anyone with a deep interest in the railroad.

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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