Locomotive Wiki
Advertisement

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 railway 432 in 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.

Virginian Railway Class MB
Details

Builder

Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA

Date Built

May 1909 - September 1910

Wheel Arrangement

2-8-2 Mikado

Gauge

Standard (4 foot 8 1/2 inches)

Driving Wheel Diameter

56 inches

Cylinder Size

26" x 32" inches

Boiler Pressure

190 psi, later 200 psi

Tractive Effort

53,157 lbf., later 55,954 lbf.

Weight

134.5 tons (218.5 tons with tender)

Fuel Capacity

14 tons of Coal

Water Capacity

9,500 gallons

Total Built

42

Numbers

420 - 461

Retired

1938 - 1956

Number Preserved

None, All Scrapped

V - E - T - D


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
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.

Gallery[]

Advertisement