The 4-6-0 Ten-wheeler Steam Locomotive

The 4-6-0 wheel arrangement was developed as early as the late 1840s first appearing on the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in 1847. Their creation came about because of a need to increase adhesion, thus, of course, allowing a single locomotive to haul heavier loads. Essentially an American design (of the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement), the Ten-wheeler’s extra axle allowed for this increase in tractive effort and for one of the first times in the railroad industry’s short history, it now had a specialized locomotive that could be used for specific purposes, in this case hauling freight and passengers over steep grades.

The 4-4-0 American Type can be given overwhelming credit, more than any other steam locomotive design before or since its development, for helping the United States flourish beginning in the latter half of the 19th century. After their debut and minor refinements the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement quickly proved its superior ability over all other types of its day and by the 1870s well over three-quarters of all steam locomotives operating in the country at that time were American Types! While the railroads themselves built our great nation into what it has become today, their initial workhorse in achieving that task was the 4-4-0 wheel arrangement.

However, throughout its life the Ten-wheeler design also found use in all types of service from moving fast passenger trains to heavy freights in mountainous territory. With the development of the heavier Consolidation Type, a 2-8-0 design, most railroads bumped their 4-6-0s to passenger-only status and/or light freight duty. Still, production on the 4-6-0 wheel arrangement lasted throughout the latter half of the 19th century and when production ended on Ten-wheelers, well over 17,000 units had been built!

The Consolidation Type, which had bumped Ten-wheelers from main line freight trains on most Class I systems of the day, was a highly successful steam locomotive design of the latter half of the 19th century that would eventually replace the American Type, 4-4-0 wheel arrangement. The new Consolidation, a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement, allowed for more tractive effort with two additional driving axles and thus could haul much heavier trains than the American design.

The 2-8-0 design was a significant technological leap from the American, 4-4-0 wheel arrangement. The Consolidation, with its two extra driving axles and front pilot truck could not only pull trains that were twice as heavy but also run at speeds fast enough to be used in any type of passenger service. For instances, railroads such as the Baltimore & Ohio, Pennsylvania, and others, which operated in mountainous territory found that the Consolidation Type performed exemplary over stiff grades.

Today, like Consolidations, there are several 4-6-0s preserved around the country, including a few that are still in operation, such as New Hope & Ivyland #1533, originally built for the Canadian Northern (later Canadian National) in 1911. This tourist railroad uses the Ten-wheeler exclusively in passenger service so you can ride behind her at any time during the season!

For more information on the Ten-wheeler steam locomotive consider Guide to North American Steam Locomotives by author George Drury, which includes nearly 500 pages of information on virtually all of the steam locomotive wheel arrangements and designs (including streamlined steamers) ever developed. The book 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 Guide to North American Steam Locomotives 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 these books please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".