Great Northern Class R-1

Great Northern Class R-1
Technical specifications
Type	2-8-8-2
Manufacturer(s)	Baldwin Locomotive Works (4) GN Hillyard Shops (10)
Build date	1925-1927
Rebuilt	1947-1948
Total produced	14 Total
Total rebuilt	4 (2034, 2040, 2042 and 2043)
Classification	R-1
Dia. of Drivers	63"
Weight	916,000 Lbs. Total
Rail gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Cylinders	Four, 28" x 32"
Boiler pressure	210 Lbs. (As-built by Baldwin) Later pressed to 225 Lbs.
Fuel type	Coal or Oil
Performance figures
Tractive effort	127,500 Lbs. (As-built) later 133,180 Lbs.
Factor of adhesion	3.59, later 3.50
Axle load	67,500 Lbs.
Service information
Running numbers	2030-2033, 2034-2043
Nickname(s)	"Mountain-Shrinkers"
Disposition details
Retired	All out of service by 1957
Disposition	All scrapped

The Great Northern R-1 were a series of 2-8-8-2 Simple articulated steam locomotives that operated on the Great Northern Railway.

History

They first few were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1925 and were numbered 2030-2033. These giants were designed to haul heavy freight trains on the Great Northern Railway's system.

The first R-1 unit, #2030 was the first 2-8-8-2 steam locomotive to arrive on the GN Ry. in June of 1925, and was also the first Simple-expansion articulated steam engine acquired by the Great Northern. When built it was briefly for a little of time the Largest and Heaviest Locomotive in the World.

The first four R-1s were very successful as that the GN wanted a more powerful version as Between 1927-1928, 10 more were constructed by the GN's famous Hillyard Shops and were numbered 2034-2043. The second batch was more powerful and updated than the baldwin-built ones as the R-1 lead to the mighty development of the slightly larger R-2 class. They were used for many years in the american northwest until the early postwar era which the GN in favor of diesels began to Withdraw the class beginning in the 1950s and by 1952, the first three examples built by Baldwin were retired to serve as stationary boilers in ore steaming service. The last engine was out of service in favor of diesels by 1956. They were all sold for scrap before 1963.

Stock list

Image	Loco No.	Build date	Manufacturer	Notes	Retired
	2030	6/1925	Baldwin Locomotive Works	First 2-8-8-2 on the GN Ry. Was later assigned to Messabi division ore-steaming services after revenue retirement, 1951.	August 1951, Boiler scrapped August 1956.
	2031	6/1925	Baldwin Locomotive Works	Later assigned to Mesabi division ore-steaming services after revenue retirement, 1951.	August 1951, Boiler scrapped August 1956.
	2032	7/1925	Baldwin Locomotive Works		Retired and scrapped June 1952.
	2033	7/1925	Baldwin Locomotive Works	Later assigned to Mesabi division ore-steaming services after revenue retirement, 1951.	August 1951, Boiler scrapped August 1956.
	2034	10-11/1927	GN Hillyard Shops, Hillyard, WA.	First Homemade 2-8-8-2, new Boiler installed by ALCO in 10-11/1947.	Retired and scrapped August 1956.
	2035	10-12/1927	GN Hillyard Shops, Hillyard, WA.		Retired and scrapped October 1955.
	2036	11/1927-1/1928	GN Hillyard Shops, Hillyard, WA.		Retired and scrapped October 1955.
	2037	12/1927-2/1928	GN Hillyard Shops, Hillyard, WA.		Retired and scrapped October 1955.
	2038	6-7/1928	GN Hillyard Shops, Hillyard, WA.		Retired and scrapped October 1955.
	2039	7-8/1928	GN Hillyard Shops, Hillyard, WA.		Retired and scrapped October 1955.
	2040	7-9/1928	GN Hillyard Shops, Hillyard, WA.	New Boiler installed by ALCO in 1-3/1948, used for Ore-steaming as last used there in 8/1960.	Retired from revenue service before 1957, Boiler scrapped in 1962.
	2041	8-9/1928	GN Hillyard Shops, Hillyard, WA.		Retired and scrapped April 1956.
	2042	9-10/1928	GN Hillyard Shops, Hillyard, WA.	New Boiler installed by ALCO in 3-5/1948, used for Ore-steaming as last used there in 8/1960.	Retired from revenue service before 1957, Boiler scrapped in 1962.
	2043	10-11/1928	GN Hillyard Shops, Hillyard, WA.	New Boiler installed by ALCO in 5-7/1948, used for Ore-steaming as last used there in 8/1960.	Retired from revenue service before 1957, Boiler scrapped in 1962.

Trivia

• The cylindrical Vanderbilt tender had a flat top and two 6-wheel Commonwealth trucks equalized to give "equal distribution of weight on each axle."
• The last ten R-1s built by Great Northern itself were based on modified specs at the Hillyard Shops.
• They may have seemed big enough to most railways, but the Great Northern wanted more power without a drop in the engine's factor of adhesion.

Steam locomotives and electric locomotives of the Great Northern Railway (U.S.)
0-6-0	A-1 • A-2 • A-3 • A-4 • A-5 • A-6 • A-7 • A-8 • A-9 • A-10 • A-11
4-4-0	1 • (1 William Crooks) • B-1 • B-2 • B-3 • B-4 • B-5 • B-6 • B-7 • B-8 • B-9 • B-10 • B-11 • B-12 • B-13 • B-14 • B-15 • B-16 • B-17 • B-18 • B-19 • B-20 • B-21 • B-22 • B-23
0-8-0	C-1 • C-2 • C-3 • C-4 • C-5
2-6-0	D-1 • D-2 • D-3 • D-4 • D-5 • D-6 • D-7 • D-8
4-6-0	E-1 • E-2 • E-3 • E-4 • E-5 • E-6 • E-7 • E-8 • E-9 • E-10 • E-11 • E-12 • E-13 • E-14 • E-15
4-6-0	F-1 • F-2 • F-3 • F-4 • F-5 • F-6 • F-7 • F-8 • (1147) • (1246) • F-9 • F-10 • F-11 • F-12
4-8-0	G-1 • G-2 • G-3 • G-4 • G-5 • G-6
4-6-2	H-1 • H-2 • H-3 • H-4 • H-5 • (1355) • H-6 • H-7
2-6-2	J-1 • J-2 • J-3
4-4-2	K-1
2-6-6-2	L-1 • L-2
2-6-8-0	M-1 • M-2
2-8-8-0	N-1 • N-2 • N-3
4-6-2	O-1 • (3059) • O-2 • O-3 • O-4 • O-5 • O-6 • O-7 • O-8
4-8-2	P-1 • P-2 • (2507) • (2523)
2-10-2	Q-1 • Q-2
2-8-8-2	R-1 • R-2
4-8-4	S-1 • S-2 • (2584)
4-6-6-4	Z-6
Electric	3-phase boxcab • W-1 • Y-1 • Z-1