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Toledo, Peoria and Western 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! Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway steam locomotive were only listed in a few numerical classes since the company was quite small and did not own a very large fleet. In any event, the information here is most certainly not a complete, all-time listing of the TP&W's steam fleet and also is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the railroad.

The reborn Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway operates the original line owned by the classic Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway which was merged into the Santa Fe in 1983. The TP&W dates back to the mid-19th century and operated as an independent carrier for nearly 100 years before disappearing into the ATSF. In an interesting twist of fate (similar to the likes of reborn systems like the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railway) the Toledo, Peoria and Western name was resurrected when the original TP&W route was sold by the Santa Fe and purchased by a private company. Today the railroad is part of the RailAmerica family of shortlines and connects with every major North American Class I system save for the Canadian Pacific, seeing several thousand of carloads of traffic annually.

Class 20

The TP&W's Class 20 included its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations.

Class 30

The TP&W's Class 30 included its fleet of 2-6-2 Prairies.

Class 60

The TP&W's Class 60 included more of its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations.

Class 70

The TP&W's Class 70 included more of its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations.

Class 80

The TP&W's Class 80 included its only roster of 4-8-4 Northerns.

For complete roster information regarding Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway steam locomotives please click here.

For more information on steam locomotives like those operated by the TP&W 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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