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Milwaukee Road 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! Milwaukee Road steam locomotives were likewise distinguished by wide range of classes from A to X. In any event, the information here is most certainly not a complete, all-time listing of the CMStP&P's steam fleet and also is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the railroad.

The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific, commonly known as simply the Milwaukee Road, is best remembered for its Hiawatha passenger trains and electrified main line known as the Pacific Extension. The fact that the great railroad is no longer with us is not as disheartening as knowing how and why its end came about. Its loyal and hardworking employees through the end were sadly cheated by upper management, which made a series of dumbfounding decisions beginning in the 1970s that ultimately ended in the railroad being sold to a rival in 1985.

Sometimes the Milwaukee's steam fleet is overlooked or forgotten due to the prestige the railroad's Lines West and electrified operations received, which continues to this day. However, the CMStP&P did have an impressive steam locomotive roster which included 4-8-4 Northerns, 2-6-6-2 heavy articulateds, and the ultra-fast and celebrated 4-4-2 Altantics and 4-6-4 Hudsons used in the railroad's Midwest Hiawatha services. Today only a few of these steam locomotives survive. For more information regarding all of the surviving Milwaukee Road steam locomotives please click here.

Class A

Milwaukee Road's Class A included its fleet of speedy 4-4-2 Atlantics ranging from Class A to A4-as.

Class B

Milwaukee Road's Class B included its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers ranging from Class B to B4.

Class C

Milwaukee Road's Class C included its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations ranging from Class C to C5-a.

Class F

Milwaukee Road's Class F included its fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics ranging from Class F to F7. It should be noted that Class F6 and F7 included the Milwaukee's fleet of blazing fast 4-6-4 Hudsons which replaced the original Atlantics in Hiawatha service.

Class G

Milwaukee Road's Class G included more of its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers ranging from Class G3 to G8.

Class H

Milwaukee Road's Class H included its fleet of speedy 4-4-0 Americans ranging from Class H3 to H7-b.

Class I

Milwaukee Road's Class I included its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers.

Class J

Milwaukee Road's Class J included its fleet of 0-4-0 switchers.

Class K1

Milwaukee Road's Class K1 included its fleet of 2-6-2 Prairies.

Class L

Milwaukee Road's Class L included its fleet of 2-8-2 Mikados.

Class M2

Milwaukee Road's Class M2 included its only roster of 2-6-0 Moguls.

Class N

Milwaukee Road's Class N included its only roster of articulated steam locomotives, 2-6-6-2s ranging from Class N1 to N3.

Class S

Milwaukee Road's Class S included its fleet of 4-8-4 Northerns ranging from Class S1 to S3.

For complete roster information regarding Milwaukee Road steam locomotives please click here.

For more reading on the Milwaukee Road you might want to consider The Milwaukee Road from Tom Murray. Of course, being that the Milwaukee is a legend in the ranks of fallen flags, hundreds of publications (many quite good) have been written about it over the years detailing various subjects. However, this book is a superb publication and will at least give you a general overview and history of the CMStP&P (and it is filled with many, excellent, historical and colorful photographs) at which point you can decide if you are interested in further books of study on the railroad. Even if you are a historian and/or fan of the Milwaukee and have not seen this book I'm sure you will enjoy it!

Also, to learn more about the Milwaukee’s famous Olympian Hiawatha and the other Hiawatha services consider purchasing a copy of The Milwaukee Road’s Hiawathas from authors Brian Solomon and John Gruber. The 160-page book details the entire 36-year history of the trains from 1935 through 1971 and is filled with photographs. If you’re interested in general history and overview of the Milwaukee’s premier passenger services you will definitely enjoy this book. If you're interested in perhaps purchasing these books please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".

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