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The 2-8-2 Mikado Type Steam Locomotive

The Mikado Type was the workhorse steam locomotive for the railroad industry prior to the switch to diesel-electric technology and is widely regarded as the classic American steam locomotive. The 2-8-2 design (a blend of the 2-8-0 and 2-6-2 wheel arrangements) offered just the right amount of power, pull, and speed to be used for about any type of service the railroads used it in, from high speed passenger trains to freights moving over stiff grades.

Originally developed around 1883 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for Japan Railways (where the locomotive received its now well known name) a Mikado design was also home-built by the Lehigh Valley that same year. After this time the Mikado Type’s great versatility was soon realized and the general design was owned by nearly every well known Class I in the United States with nearly 10,000 in all built domestically and over 11,000 in total!

Also known as “Mikes” for short of the dozens of railroads that owned the 2-8-2 wheel arrangement the New York Central would roster the most, at over 700 units! Other railroads that would own several hundred Mikado Types include the Baltimore & Ohio, Santa Fe, Chesapeake & Ohio, Burlington, Milwaukee Road, Illinois Central, Louisville & Nashville, Missouri Pacific, Pennsylvania, Northern Pacific, Southern, and Union Pacific.

For a look at some of the railroads that rostered the most Mikados and their classes please have a look at the table below (Please note that the class listing here is very general as many railroads broke the locomotive down into further designations such as H-1a, H-1b, H-1c, etc. Also, not all railroads are listed that owned Mikados):

· B&O: Class Q – 666

· Burlington: Class O (1-4) – 383

· C&O: Class K – 262

· Chicago & North Western: Class L – 210

· Erie: Class N – 211

· Great Northern: Class O (1-8) – 292

· Illinois Central: No Designated Class – 580

· Louisville & Nashville: Class J (1-5) – 355

· Milwaukee Road: Class L – 500

· Missouri Pacific: Class MK-63 – 296

· New York Central: Class H – 715

· Northern Pacific: Class W - 386

· Rock Island: Class K – 234

· Pennsylvania: Class L1/L2 - 579

· Santa Fe: No Designated Class – 307

· Southern Railway: Class Ms – 435

· Union Pacific: Class Mk-10 – 342

Most of the 11,000+ Mikado Types built came from the American Locomotive Company (Alco), Baldwin Locomotive Works, or Lima Locomotive Works. However, a few hundred more were built by the railroads themselves either as experimentations or in an attempt to save on the cost of purchasing new by having their own shop forces produce the locomotive. Just for historical reference it should noted that during World War II some railroads, in an attempt to shed the locomotive’s ties to Japan, renamed the design “MacArthurs” in place of Mikado.

Today, several Mikado Types survive around the country, such as Southern 4501 at the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum and Southern Pacific 745, the latter of which is operating condition, on the National Register, and owned by the Louisiana Steam Train Association.

For more information on the Mikado Type please click here to visit SteamLocomotive.com to learn much, much more about this steam locomotive.

For more information on the Mikado Type steam locomotive consider How a Steam Locomotive Works by author Karen Parker, which explores in great detail how exactly each component of a steam locomotive works but is also easy enough to read for anyone to understand. 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 Parker's book, How a Steam Locomotive Works, 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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