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

The New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad, historically known as simply the Nickel Plate Road, was a medium sized Class I operating in the Midwest from Buffalo and Pittsburgh in the east to Chicago and St. Louis in the west. Although this railroad is usually associated as another David among Goliaths in the Northeast-Midwest rail market it held its own and operated excellent freight service throughout its area of operations. The NYC&StL gained its name, Nickel Plate, from an Ohio newspaper columnist as a compliment for the railroad’s high standard of construction when it was completed and opened in 1881.

Although the Nickel Plate was only a regional Class I in nature and operated through relatively flat country in western Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York as well as Indiana and Illinois it rostered some large steamers including its famous 2-8-4 Berkshires. Today, no less than eleven NYC&StL steamers remain preserved, most of which are 2-8-4 Berkshires (including operational 765 and soon-to-be operational 763).

Class B

The NKP's Class B included its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers.

Class C-17

The NKP's Class C-17 included its roster of 0-8-0 switchers.

Class D-9

The NKP's Class D-9 included its roster of 4-4-0 Americans.

Class E-3

The NKP's Class E-3 included its roster of 4-4-2 Atlantics.

Class F

The NKP's Class F included its fleet of 2-6-0 Moguls.

Class G

The NKP's Class G included its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations, ranging from G-1 to G-10.

Class H

The NKP's Class H included its fleet of 2-8-2 Mikados.

Class K-1a/K1-b

The NKP's Class K-1a and K-1b included its fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics.

Class L-1

The NKP's Class L-1 included its roster of 4-6-4 Hudsons.

Class M

The NKP's Class M included more of its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers.

Class N

The NKP's Class N included more of its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations.

Class P

The NKP's Class P included its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers ranging from Class P to Class P-6.

Class R

The NKP's Class R included more of its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers.

Class S

The NKP's Class S included its fleet of 2-8-4 Berkshires ranging from Class S to Class S-3.

Class U

The NKP's Class U included more of its fleet of 0-8-0 switchers.

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

For more reading about the Nickel Plate consider The Nickel Plate Road from author Taylor Hampton. The book gives a superb history on the railroad including information regarding its large and vaunted fleet of steam locomotives, so if you are looking for a book which provides a great historical account of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad you will enjoy this book very much.

You might want to also pick up the book Nickel Plate Road: Publicity Photos 1943-1952 Volume 1 by author John Corns. As the title implies the book features 128 of various Nickel Plate steam and diesel locomotives during the "transition years" of the two motive power types. 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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