The MBs were a fleet of 42 2-8-2 Mikado type steam locomotives that ran on the Virginian Railway from 1909 until 1956.

Virginian No. 432, the last MB on the VGN's roster, is seen here in the Autumn of 1956 performing its very last duties before retirement. It was later scrapped a few years later leaving no MBs from escaping the cutter's torch. The locomotive was built by Baldwin in January 1910.
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History[]
In 1909, the recently built Virginian Railroad needed a new kind of freight locomotive. W.P. Sanderson, later joined by chief draftsmen George Halstead, along with a few advisors from the Baldwin Locomotive Works, drew up plans for a new 2-8-2 design. Halstead, who was the one responsible for devising a simple yet effective alphabetical locomotive and car classification system for the railroad, said: "Sanderson and I thought it was the best engine for its weight ever built".
This was the most significant task Mr. Halstead took up for the Virginian. These locomotives were, what many believe to be, the first true examples of the 2-8-2 wheel arrangement. They had a deep firebox, supported by the trailing truck and a large, superheated boiler. The MBs were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works from May 1909 to September 1910 with 42 locomotives built. These locomotives had 56" inch driving wheels, 26" x 32" inch cylinders, 190 psi boilers, and had a tractive effort of 53,157 lbs. Their tenders could hold 14 tons of coal and 9,500 gallons of water. Each locomotive weighed in at 134.5 tons (218.5 tons with tenders of course). These locomotives were described as multipurpose, they were good for switching, hauling heavy coal drags, fast freights, and even passenger trains, as well as serving as pusher locomotives on steep grades. The top speed for these engines was around 45 - 60 mph.
The locomotives had healthy appetites. They drank more that it should upon occasion, which was obliged to work like blazes for their keep. The were also light enough for the weight restrictions for the wooden trestle at Harper, Virginia.
According to one Source from The Virginian Railway by H. Reid, these locomotives were described as "The Virginian's greatest locomotive". Another article from the book says "If the MB was to occupy the hero's role, it had to be a talented actor". And indeed it was, from the 12-degree curves, 2.07 percent grades and tunnels around Clarks Gap, on the to pine-forest flatlands of Virginia, the locomotives did their job handily.
"The MB was the best thing that happened to the Virginian since Henry Huttleston Rogers. Without the MB Chapter, the Virginian story might have concluded long before it did." - H. Reid.
Later on, the class was fitted with superheating which increased their boiler pressure from 190 psi to 200 psi and their tractive effort increased to 55,954 lbf. Some of them even received modern looking cabs and they were eventually supplied with Berkley or Duplex stokers.
Retirement[]
In 1938, the Virginian Railway began to retire the MBs in favor for modern equipment. Engines 425, 431, 433, 435, 436, 444, 445, and 449 were the first ones to leave the VGN roster (although engines 452 and 455 were sold off to the Algoma Central & Hudson Bay Railroad and 427, 438, 456 and 461 were sold to the Montour Railroad the previous year). In the Autumn of 1956, engine No. 432, the last member of the class in service, became the last steam locomotive to operate on the VGN's Roanoke, Virginia theater of operations. In February 1959, the last two locomotives, #432 and #459 which was placed in storage after retirement, were cut up for scrap. Sadly, none were preserved.
Incidents[]
- 1920s: Engine No. 433 was heading the Glen Rogers mixed train out of Maden, West Virginia when it rounded a curve and a huge boulder, which had gotten loose due to the rainy weather, was rolling towards it! The train managed to stop in time and the boulder stopped rolling, a few feet from the engine's front coupler. They later managed to dynamite the boulder off the track the next day
- October 31, 1916 Roanoke, Virginia: Engine No. 428 was hauling Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show was heading out of Roanoke. The engine headed out of Roanoke, grabbling steadily and heading out of Shorters Spur at milepost 141. Then No. 428 lurched, jerking itself and several of the livestock cars loaded with the show's animals of the tracks. Many of the Horses were killed, breaking Buffalo Bill's heart. The cause of the wreck was due to a split switch, although many of the railroaders down the line were of the opinion that a combination of wooden cars and speed was to blame.
- July 1945 Norfolk, Virginia: Engineer B. Moore was driving engine No. 429 with a short freight train when its injector began leaking and water began to seep into the firebox. Nearby the train was a general store. Moore ran over to the General store and bought a 10- pound sack of cornmeal. He then opened the injector and told the fireman to pour the entire bag of cornmeal into the injector. After that, the train continued on its journey.
Stock List[]
Image | Loco No. | Build date | Manufacturer | Serial Number | Scrapped |
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420 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33395 | Scrapped in March, 1955 | |
421 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33396 | Scrapped in May,1953 | |
422 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33397 | Scrapped in June, 1953 | |
423 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33398 | Scrapped in May, 1953 | |
424 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33398 | Scrapped in July, 1947 | |
425 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33414 | Scrapped in March, 1938 | |
426 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33415 | Scrapped in April, 1953 | |
427 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33429 | Sold to the Montour R. R. in May 1937 as #42. Scrapped June 1951. | |
428 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33429 | Scrapped in June, 1953 | |
429 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33431 | Scrapped in March, 1955 | |
430 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33432 | Scrapped in March 1955. NOTE: At the time of its retirement, it was the only member of the class to still retain its original cab since construction by Baldwin in 1909. | |
431 | May, 1909 | Baldwin | 33433 | Scrapped in March, 1938. | |
432 | January, 1910 | Baldwin | 34162 | Retired in 1956. Last MB in service. Scrapped in February, 1959. | |
433 | January 1910 | Baldwin | 34163 | Scrapped in March, 1938. | |
434 | January 1910 | Baldwin | 34164 | Scrapped in June, 1953. | |
435 | January, 1910 | Baldwin | 34213 | Scrapped in March, 1938. | |
436 | January, 1910 | Baldwin | 34214 | Scrapped in March, 1938 | |
437 | January, 1910 | Baldwin | 34277 | Scrapped in June, 1953 | |
438 | March, 1910 | Baldwin | 34426 | Sold to the Montour R.R. in 1937 as #43. Scrapped in December, 1952. | |
439 | August, 1910 | Baldwin | 35066 | Scrapped in July, 1947 | |
440 | August, 1910 | Baldwin | 35067 | Scrapped in Aug, 1955 | |
441 | August, 1910 | Baldwin | 35068 | Scrapped in July, 1947 | |
442 | August, 1910 | Baldwin | 35114 | Out of service by July 5th, 1954. Scrapped in March 1955 | |
443 | August, 1910 | Baldwin | 35115 | Scrapped in June, 1953 | |
444 | August, 1910 | Baldwin | 35150 | Scrapped in March, 1938 | |
445 | August, 1910 | Baldwin | 35151 | Scrapped in March, 1938 | |
446 | September, 1910 | Baldwin | 35214 | Scrapped in March, 1955 | |
447 | September, 1910 | Baldwin | 35215 | Scrapped in March, 1955 | |
448 | September, 1910 | Baldwin | 35216 | Scrapped in March, 1955 | |
449 | September, 1910 | Baldwin | 35285 | Scrapped in March, 1938 | |
450 | July, 1910 | Baldwin | 34923 | Scrapped in March, 1952 | |
451 | July, 1910 | Baldwin | 34924 | Scrapped in March, 1953 | |
452 | July, 1910 | Baldwin | 34925 | Sold to the Algoma Central & Hudson Bay RR in 1937 (as #70). Scrapped in September, 1950 | |
453 | July, 1910 | Baldwin | 34926 | Scrapped in March, 1955 | |
454 | July, 1910 | Baldwin | 34983 | Scrapped in June, 1953 | |
455 | July, 1910 | Baldwin | 34984 | Sold to the Algoma Central & Hudson Bay RR in 1937 (as #71). Scrapped in September, 1950 | |
456 | July, 1910 | Baldwin | 34985 | Sold to the Montour Railroad in 1937 (as #44). Scrapped in June, 1948 | |
457 | July, 1910 | Baldwin | 34986 | Scrapped in May, 1953 | |
458 | August, 1910 | Baldwin | 35024 | Scrapped in August, 1953 | |
459 | August, 1910 | Baldwin | 35025 | Out of service by 1956. Scrapped in February, 1959 | |
460 | August, 1910 | Baldwin | 35026 | Scrapped in June, 1955 | |
461 | August, 1910 | Baldwin | 35027 | Sold to the Montour Railroad in May 1937 (as their #45). Scrapped in November, 1946. |