| Norfolk and Western Classes S1 and S1a | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Norfolk and Western S1 and S1a class 0-8-0s were a fleet of 75 0-8-0 switcher type steam locomotives that worked on the Norfolk and Western Railway during the 1950s.
In 1950, the Norfolk & Western Railroad bought 30 0-8-0 Switchers from the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad. They were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1948 and were previously numbered as C&O #255 - 284. Once they were sold to the N&W, they retained their former C&O numbers and they were classified as S1. They were based on the USRA 0-8-0 design from 1918, but with a modernized look. In 1951, the Norfolk & Western began building their own 0-8-0 switchers at their Roanoke Shops based on the C&O design, but these engines were classified as S1a. 45 of the S1a class switchers were built between 1951 and 1953 by the N&W's Roanoke Shops (with engine #244 being the last one built. Constructed in December 1953, becoming the last steam locomotive built for U.S. use in the country).
The locomotives served the N&W by switching freight cars and other kinds of rolling stock around the marshalling yards. But despite being so young, the N&W had to face the music and modernize. The first of the 0-8-0s were retired in 1958 (with #244 being one of the first to retire in March 1958, not even reaching its 5th birthday). The last one, #291 (previously numbered #215, later renumbered in 1959) was retired on May 7, 1960 as the era of steam on the Norfolk & Western Railroad ended. Sadly, none of the S1 nor the S1as survived into preservation.
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