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The 4-8-4 Northern Type Steam Locomotive

Purely on looks the Northern Type, in general, was one of the most beautiful steam locomotive designs ever developed. While some of these handsome locomotives would receive streamlining even without such enhancements they were still a fine looking piece of machinery with a “streamlined” tender and centered headlight. This steam locomotive gained its name from the Northern Pacific due to the fact that to burn the low-grade coal found along the railroad the steamer needed a larger firebox. However, it received many other names as well from “Greenbriers” on the Chesapeake & Ohio to “Westerns” on the Denver & Rio Grande Western.

One particular feature that made the 4-8-4 wheel arrangement so successful was its versatility where it was just as capable of pulling a time-sensitive passenger train clipping along at 70+ mph as it was at lugging a heavy freight train over stiff grades. This versatility, along with the locomotive being equipped with some of the latest technology, made the Northern Type one of the most successful designs of all time with over 1,000 built for 36 different railroads. Perhaps the most well known Northerns to ever operate including the Norfolk & Western’s handsome J Class, Southern Pacific’s Golden States, and New York Central’s Niagaras just to name a few (there were many others).

While this steam locomotive design is best remembered as the Northern Type not every railroad thought such a name was appropriate for their models. The below list gives some of the different names the locomotive became known by on other railroads:

· Atlantic Coast Line: 1800s

· Canadian National: Confederations

· Central of Georgia: Big Apples

· Chesapeake & Ohio: Greenbriers

· Denver & Rio Grande Western: Westerns

· Grand Trunk Western: Confederations

· Lackawanna: Poconos

· Lehigh Valley: Wyomings

· Norfolk & Western: J Class

· New York Central: Niagras

· Southern Pacific: Golden States

· Western Maryland: Potomacs

Today, many Northern Types survive and several still remain in operation with the most famous including N&W J-Class 618 (currently in storage); Union Pacific Northern 844 (the last steam locomotive ever purchased by the UP and the only steam locomotive to never be retired by a Class I railroad); Southern Pacific Golden State 4449; Spokane, Portland & Seattle 700; C&O Greenbrier 614 (needs heavy maintenance to operate again but will hopefully one day pull the Yellow Ribbon Express); and Santa Fe Northern 3751 (and these aren’t even all still in operation!). Of all the large steamers that still remain in operation the Northerns are the most prolific so you have ample opportunities to see these beautiful ladies in action from coast to coast!

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

Lastly, for more information on the Northern Type 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 covering many of the most popular steam designs such as Pacifics, Ten Wheelers, Berkshires, and Hudsons 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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