Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac 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! The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac steam locomotives were likewise characterized by a wide range of classes although the railroad chose to use numbers to designate its differing steam types rather than letters (as was commonly used by most other carriers). In any event, the information here is most certainly not a complete, all-time listing of RF&P's steam fleet and also is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the railroad.
Interestingly, for its small size the RF&P actually owned some large steam locomotives including 4-8-4 Northerns, 2-8-4 Berkshires, and even a small roster of 2-8-8-2 articulateds! Unfortunately, today no Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac steam locomotives are known to exist. The RF&P's Class 1 was its sole roster of articulated steam, of the 2-8-8-2 wheel arrangement (purchased second-hand from the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway originally designated as the C&O's Class H-7). The RF&P's Class 31 was its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers. The RF&P's Class 35 was more of its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers. The RF&P's Class 41 was more of its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers. The RF&P's Class 71 was its fleet of 0-8-0 switchers.
The RF&P's Class 91 was more of its fleet of 0-8-0 switchers. The RF&P's Class 101 was its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers. The RF&P's Class 106 was more of its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers. The RF&P's Pacifics were its largest fleet of steam locomotives and included Classes 251, 256, 264, 301, 325, 401, and 403. The RF&P's Class 501 was its fleet of 4-8-2 Mountains. The RF&P's Class 515 was more of its fleet of 4-8-2 Mountains. The RF&P's Class 551 was its fleet of 4-8-4 Northerns. The RF&P's Class 571 was its lone roster of 2-8-4 Berkshires. The RF&P's Class 601 was more of its fleet of 4-8-4 Northerns. For complete roster information regarding Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac steam locomotives please click here.
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