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 Missouri Pacific Railroad Steam LocomotivesThe classifications given by railroads to their steam locomotive fleets were as varied as the machines themselves with several different designations within a particular class! Missouri Pacific Railroad steam locomotives were likewise distinguished by a wide range of numerical classes (along with the Santa Fe the MoPac was one of few large railroads of its day to distinguish its steam types by numbers rather than letters). In any event, the information here is most certainly not a complete, all-time listing of the MoPac's steam fleet and also is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the railroad.
While the Missouri Pacific operated throughout much of the Midwest, western plains, and south/southwest it surprisingly never rostered any Mallet or articulated steam locomotives with its largest steamers being 2-10-2 Santa Fes and 4-8-4 Northerns. Unfortunately today, no MoPac steamers are known to be preserved anywhere in the country. The MoPac's Class 1 included its roster of 2-8-0 Consolidations. The MoPac's Class 299 included its roster of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers. The MoPac's Class 315 included more of its roster of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers. The MoPac's Class 941 included its only roster of 2-10-0 Decapods. The MoPac's Class 1031 included more of its roster of 2-8-0 Consolidations.
These classes designated the MoPac's fleet of 2-8-2 Mikados. The MoPac's Class 1121 included its only roster of 2-8-4 Berkshires. These classes designated the MoPac's fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics. These classes designated the MoPac's fleet of 2-10-2 Santa Fes. The MoPac's Class 1121 included its only roster of 4-8-0 Twelve-Wheelers. These classes designated the MoPac's fleet of 4-8-4 Northerns. These classes designated the MoPac's fleet of 4-8-2 Mountains. The MoPac's Class 5501 included its only roster of 4-4-2 Atlantics. These classes designated the MoPac's fleet of 0-6-0 switchers.
For more reading and background on the MoPac consider the book Missouri Pacific Lines from Patrick Dorin, which gives a very well done general history of the railroad (up until its merger with UP) with plenty of photographs to boot. Anyone with an interest in the MoPac will almost surely enjoy the book. 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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