N&W 2156, the most powerful extant steam locomotive in the world (in terms of tractive effort), is from the railroad's Y6a class; N&W's own Roanoke Shops built it in 1942 and it is owned by the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Norfolk and Western classes Y6, Y6a and Y6b were classes of 2-8-8-2 "Mallet" articulated steam locomotives, with a total of 81 locomotives built for the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) between 1936 and 1952.

Norfolk and Western 2156 is a preserved Y6a class 2-8-8-2 compound Mallet steam locomotive. The Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) built it in 1942 at its own Shops in Roanoke, Virginia as the second member of the N&W's Y6a class.

2021年12月14日 · The Y-6's were followed up by the Y-6a's of 1942 (#2155-2170) and the most powerful and efficient of all, the Y-6b's. These locomotives, #2171-2200 were outshopped between April of 1948 and April of 1952.

The Norfolk and Western Class Y6b was a class of 2-8-8-2 Mallets built between 1948-1952 with a total of 30 examples built for the Norfolk and Western Railway. The Y6b was known as the workhorse of the Norfolk and Western Railway and the epitome of the compound mallet development design.

2024年11月5日 · The 2-8-8-2 wheel arrangement, also known as Chesapeakes, were a powerful Mallet steam locomotive design first introduced in 1909.

Norfolk & Western #2156 was built at the railway’s shops in Roanoke in 1942. The locomotive is a Mallet type articulated steam locomotive featuring a 2-8-8-2 wheel arrangement. Although she was part of the N&W’s ‘Y6a’ class, she was equipped with a larger firebox that was used on the ‘Y6b’ locomotives which significantly increased her power output.

The Y-6bs could divert live, high-pressure steam to the LP cylinders while working compound expansion. Pulling a load of 13,500 tons on the level at 25 mph, the Y-6b developed 5,500 indicated horsepower (cut-off of the HP cylinders of 60% and in the LP cylinders 55%).

Joshua Lionel Cowen Series Norfolk & Western Y6b. In 1952 locomotive #2200, a Y6b class 2-8-8-2 rolled out of the Norfolk & Western Railways Roanoke shops. It would be the last American mianline steam locomotive and would ride the rails of the Nations last class I steam railroads.

2006年6月15日 · Southern Railway 2-8-8-2 No. 4057, a simple articulated, wheels a southward freight near Buena Vista, N.C., bound for Spartanburg, on July 22, 1939. In 1909, Baldwin introduced the 2-8-8-2, sending the first two to Southern Pacific, then three apiece to Union Pacific and affiliated road Oregon Railway & Navigation Co.