Virginian Railway Class AG

Virginian Railway Class AG "Blue Ridge"
Technical specifications
Designer(s)	William Woodard
Manufacturer(s)	Lima Locomotive Works
Build date	March to June 1945
Total produced	Eight
Wheel arrangement	2-6-6-6 "Blue Ridge"
Dia. of Drivers	67"
Weight	1,195,000 Lbs. (Both locomotive and tender Maximum)
Rail gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Valve gear	Baker
Cylinders	Four
Boiler type	Radial-Stay
Boiler pressure	260 lbf/in2 (1.79 MPa)
Superheater	Schmidt (Worthington Feedwater heater)
Bore stroke	22.5 in × 33 in (572 mm × 838 mm)
Firegrate area	135.20 sq ft (12.560 m2)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	25 Tons of Coal 26,500 Gallons of Water.
Heating area	3,186 sq ft (296.0 m2)
Performance figures
Maximum speed	At least 60 mph (97 km/h)
Continuous power-output	6,700 hp (5,000 kW) to 6,900 hp (5,150 kW)
Tractive effort	110,211 lbf (490.24 kN)
Factor of adhesion	4.61
Axle load	82,500 Lbs. Maximum.
Service information
Operator(s)	Virginian Railway (VGN)
Running numbers	900-907
Liveries	All black with Yellow Lettering with Red Cab window frames.
Disposition details
Retired	1955 to 1957
Preserved	None were Preserved
Disposition	All Scrapped before 1962.

The Virginian Railway Blue Ridge Class was a class of 2-6-6-6 steam locomotives built by Lima Locomotive Works for the Virginian Railway.

History

They were known as the "Blue Ridge" class of the Virginian Railway. These were some of the most powerful reciprocating steam locomotives ever built, at 7,500 hp (which was only exceeded by the Pennsylvania Railroad class Q2 in indicated horsepower), and one of the heaviest at 386 tons for the locomotive itself plus 215 tons for the loaded tender.

Only eight examples were built during the construction of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway "Blue Ridge" class known as the C&O's H-8s. They were numbered 900-907 by the Virginian Railway. Sadly, all eight of the Virginian Railway's Blue Ridge Class were taken out of service and were All scrapped when the Virginian Railway had dieselized. All that was left from the Virginian Railway Blue Ridge Class are two surviving cousin C&O H-8s, which are C&O Nos. 1601 and 1604.

Accidents and Incidents

• No. 902 suffered a derailment at an unknown point in its carrier.

Numbering

Image	Loco No.	Manufacturer	Serial	Build Date	Notes
	900	Lima Locomotive Works	8859	March 1945	Retired in 1955.
	901	Lima Locomotive Works	8860	April 1945	Retired in 1955.
Frameless	902	Lima Locomotive Works	8861	April 1945	Retired in 1955.
	903	Lima Locomotive Works	8862	April 1945	Retired in 1955, Scrapped in January 1960.
	904	Lima Locomotive Works	8863	April 1945	Retired in 1955.
Frameless	905	Lima Locomotive Works	8864	May 1945	Retired in 1955.
	906	Lima Locomotive Works	8865	May 1945	Retired in 1955.
Frameless	907	Lima Locomotive Works	8866	June 1945	Retired in 1955, Scrapped in January 1960.

Trivia

• One of the engines, 907, is in the game "TrainStation"
• The American engine Sam from The British TV Show: ''Thomas and Friends.'' is based on The Virginian Railway Class AG, Specifically No. 906. In Reality, The Virginian Railway Class AG's would be too large to run on British Rails. Despite that, Sam has been Re-scaled to fit on British Rails in The Thomas and Friends World.