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

The Northern Pacific Railway was the first of the three major Northwestern railroads to begin construction. Unlike many other railroads the Northern Pacific did not change names numerous times throughout its existence and would likewise never acquire numerous other smaller roads to form its system. Perhaps what the railroad is best remembered for is its Ying Yang herald and its distinguished flagship passenger train, the North Coast Limited, which used a beautiful two-tone green livery.

The NP's steam fleet was a vast mix of large and small and like all of the northwestern roads the railroad used large articulateds to get freight over the Rockies and through the Cascades. Today, although no large articulated steamers survive several over types owned by the NP do.

Class A

The NP's Class A included its fleet of 4-8-4 Northerns and included Class A to A-4.

Class B

The NP's Class B included part of its fleet of 4-4-0 Americans.

Class C

The NP's Class C included part of its fleet of 4-4-0 Americans ranging from Class C-1 to C-33.

Class D

The NP's Class D included its fleet of 2-6-0 Moguls ranging from Class D to D-9.

Class E

The NP's Class E included its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers ranging from Class E to E-8.

Class F

The NP's Class F included its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations ranging from Class F to F-8.

Class G

The NP's Class G included its roster of 0-8-0 switchers.

Class H

The NP's Class H included its roster of various 0-4-0, 0-4-2T, and 0-4-4T switchers.

Class I

The NP's Class I included its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers.

Class K

The NP's Class K included small rosters of 2-6-0 Moguls and 0-6-0 switchers.

Class L

The NP's Class L included more of its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers.

Class M

The NP's Class M included its only roster of 2-10-0 Decapods.

Class N

The NP's Class N included its fleet of 4-4-2 Atlantics.

Class P

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

Class Q

The NP's Class Q included its fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics and included Class Q to Q-6.

Class R, Class S

These classes included more of NP's fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers.

Class T

The NP's Class T included its fleet of 2-6-2 Prairies.

Class V

The NP's Class V included its only roster of geared steam, including Shays and Heislers.

Class W

The NP's Class W included its fleet of 2-8-2 Mikados ranging from Class W to W-5.

Class X

The NP's Class X included its fleet of 4-8-0 Twelve-Wheelers.

Class Y

The NP's Class Y included more of its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations ranging from Class Y to Y-5.

Class Z

The NP's Class Z included its fleet of massive articulated steam types; 2-6-6-2s, 2-8-8-2s, 2-8-8-4 Yellowstones, and 4-6-6-4 Challengers.

For complete roster information regarding Northern Pacific Railway steam locomotives please click here.

For more on the NP you might want to consider the book Northern Pacific Railway Photo Archive by John Kelly. The author gives a superb pictorial history of the railroad from the 1930s through the 1960s and features both freight and passenger operations If you have any kind of an interest in the Northern Pacific you are sure to enjoy Sullivan's 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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