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Seaboard Air Line 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! The Seaboard Air Line steam locomotives were likewise characterized by a wide range of classes from A to R. In any event, the information here is most certainly not a complete, all-time listing of SAL's steam fleet and also is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the railroad.

The Seaboard Air Line is perhaps best remembered for being a somewhat smaller version of the Atlantic Coast Line as everywhere the ACL went so too did the SAL (and thus it is not surprising that the two would decide to merge in the late 1960s). This is not to say, however, that the SAL was an inferior road to the ACL, quite the contrary. The Seaboard held its own with its fiercest competitor and after managing to pull through troubled waters during the early years of its life, the railroad provided quality freight transportation to the Southeast.

While the SAL operated through the relatively flat Southeast it did roster some massive steam locomotives for its hillier western lines including 2-10-2 Santa Fes, 2-8-8-2s, and 2-6-6-4s. Today, none of the railroad's large arcticulateds survive but three 2-10-0 Decapods do along with a few others. For information regarding preserved SAL steam locomotives please click here.

Class A

The SAL's Class A included its fleet of massive 2-8-8-2 Mallets.

Class B

The SAL's Class B included its fleet of 2-10-2 Santa Fes.

Class D

The SAL's Class D included its fleet of 2-10-0 Decapods.

Class E

The SAL's Class E included its fleet of 4-4-0 Americans.

Class F

The SAL's Class F included its fleet of 0-6-0 switchers and ranged from Class F1 to F9.

Class G

The SAL's Class G included more its fleet of 4-4-0 Americans.

Class H

The SAL's Class H included its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations.

Class I

The SAL's Class I included its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers and 2-6-0 Moguls

Class K

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

Class L

The SAL's Class L ranged from 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers to 2-8-0 Consolidations (and even 0-6-0 switchers as with Class L5).

Class M

The SAL's Class M included its fleet of 4-8-2 Mountains.

Class P

The SAL's Class P included its fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics.

Class Q

The SAL's Class Q included its fleet of 2-8-2 Mikados.

Class R

The SAL's Class R included the railroad's largest fleet of steamers it ever owned, 2-6-6-4 heavy articulateds in mountain/drag service.

For much, much more information about Seaboard Air Line steam locomotives please click here for a complete roster.

For more reading about steam locomotives like those operated by the SAL 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.

Also, consider the book American Steam Locomotives from author Brian Solomon. While this publication does not include quite as much technical data as Lamb's book, Perfecting the American Steam Locomotive, it is still a very good resource with lots of information 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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