Norfolk & Western 1218

Norfolk & Western 1218

Norfolk and Western Railway 1218 in railfan service in 1987

Type and origin Power type Steam Builder N&W's Roanoke Shops Serial number 340 Build date 1943

Specifications Configuration 2-6-6-4 UIC class (1′C)C2′ h4 Gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 33 in (838 mm) Driver dia. 70 in (1,778 mm) Trailing dia. 42 in (1,067 mm) Height 16 ft (4.88 m) Axle load 72,000 lb (32.7 tonnes) Adhesive weight 433,350 lb (196.6 tonnes) Loco weight 573,000 lb (259.9 tonnes) Total weight 951,600 lb (431.6 tonnes) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 60,000 lb (27.2 tonnes) Water cap 22,000 US gal (83,000 l; 18,000 imp gal) Firebox:  • Firegrate area 122 sq ft (11.3 m2) Boiler pressure 300 lbf/in2 (2.07 MPa) Heating surface:  • Tubes and flues 6,052 sq ft (562.2 m2)  • Firebox 587 sq ft (54.5 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 2,703 sq ft (251.1 m2) Cylinders Four, simple articulated Cylinder size 24 in × 30 in (610 mm × 762 mm) Valve gear Baker Valve type Piston valves

Performance figures Maximum speed 70+ mph Power output 5,400 hp (4,000 kW) Tractive effort Starting: 125,897 lbf (560.02 kN) Continuous: 114,000 lbf (507.10 kN) Factor of adh. 3.44

Career Operators Norfolk & Western Railway Class A Number in class 19 of 43 Locale United States, South and Midwest Retired 1959 (revenue) 1991 (excursion) Restored 1987 Current owner Virginia Museum of Transportation Disposition On display

Norfolk & Western 1218 is a steam locomotive that at one time was the strongest-pulling operational steam locomotive in the world. It is a four-cylinder simple articulated locomotive with a 2-6-6-4 (Whyte system) wheel arrangement. The Norfolk & Western Railway built it in 1943 at its Roanoke Shops in Roanoke, Virginia, and was part of the Norfolk & Western's class A fleet of fast freight locomotives. It was retired from regular revenue service in 1959, but Norfolk & Western successor Norfolk Southern Railway operated it in excursion service from 1987 to 1991. Today it is on display at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke.

Norfolk & Western 1218 is the sole survivor of the railroad's class A locomotives, and the only surviving 2-6-6-4 steam locomotive in the world. While smaller than Union Pacific's famous and more numerous "Challenger" Class of 4-6-6-4 locomotives, Norfolk and Western's design racked up unmatched records of performance in service.

During 1218's excursion career, it was the most powerful operational steam locomotive in the world, with a tractive effort of 125,897 pounds-force (560.02 kN), well above the next-strongest-pulling operational steam locomotive (Union Pacific 3985, with a tractive effort of 97,350 lbf (433.0 kN)). Unlike diesel-electric locomotives of similar high tractive effort (for starting heavy trains) but typical for a steam locomotive, it could easily run at 70 miles per hour (113 km/h) and more.

Norfolk & Western used 1218 and the other class A locomotives primarily for fast freight trains, but they also pulled heavy coal trains on the flatter districts of the Norfolk & Western system, and reportedly even pulled heavy passenger trains at times.

In 1959, the 1218 was purchased by the Union Carbide Co. in Charleston, West Virginia, where it was used as a stationary boiler at a chemical plant. In 1965, the 1218 was repurchased by New England millionaire F. Nelson Blount for his locomotive collection at Steamtown, U.S.A. in Bellows Falls, Vermont. Three years later, it's former owner Norfolk & Western did a cosmetic restoration on 1218 at their East End Shops in Roanoke, Virginia (the same place where it was built). After that, it was put on display at Wasena Park in 1971.