USRA Light Mikado

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-8-2
• UIC	1′D1′ h2
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.	33 in (0.838 m)
Driver dia.	63 in (1.600 m)
Trailing dia.	43 in (1.092 m)
Wheelbase	locomotive: 36 ft 1 in (11.00 m); + tender: 71 ft 4+1⁄2 in (21.76 m)
Adhesive weight	220,000 lb (99,800 kg)
Loco weight	292,000 lb (132,000 kilograms; 132 metric tons)
Tender weight	185,400 lb (84,100 kilograms; 84.1 metric tons)
Total weight	477,400 lb (216,500 kilograms; 216.5 metric tons)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	16 t (16 long tons; 18 short tons)
Water cap.	10,000 US gal (38,000 L; 8,300 imp gal)
Boiler pressure	200 psi (1.38 MPa)
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	26 in × 30 in (660 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gear	Walschaerts

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	ALCO, Baldwin, Lima
Build date	1918-1929
Total produced	614 originals plus 641 copies

USRA Light Mikado
USRA Light Mikado
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	ALCO, Baldwin, Lima
Build date	1918-1929
Total produced	614 originals plus 641 copies
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-8-2
• UIC	1′D1′ h2
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Leading dia.	33 in (0.838 m)
Driver dia.	63 in (1.600 m)
Trailing dia.	43 in (1.092 m)
Wheelbase	locomotive: 36 ft 1 in (11.00 m); + tender: 71 ft 4+1⁄2 in (21.76 m)
Adhesive weight	220,000 lb (99,800 kg)
Loco weight	292,000 lb (132,000 kilograms; 132 metric tons)
Tender weight	185,400 lb (84,100 kilograms; 84.1 metric tons)
Total weight	477,400 lb (216,500 kilograms; 216.5 metric tons)
Fuel type	Coal
Fuel capacity	16 t (16 long tons; 18 short tons)
Water cap.	10,000 US gal (38,000 L; 8,300 imp gal)
Boiler pressure	200 psi (1.38 MPa)
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	26 in × 30 in (660 mm × 762 mm)
Valve gear	Walschaerts
Maximum speed
Performance figures
Maximum speed	59 miles per hour (95 km/h)
Tractive effort	54,724 lbf (243.42 kN)
Preserved
Career
Preserved	6 original and 3 copies preserved

Last updated November 20, 2024

The USRA Light Mikado was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. This was the standard light freight locomotive of the USRA types, and was of 2-8-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or 1′D1′ in UIC classification.

A total of 614 locomotives were built under the auspices of the USRA,^[1] with a further 641 copies built after the end of the USRA's control. The first, for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, was completed in July 1918 and given #4500. The locomotives were considered well designed and modern, and were popular and successful. Large numbers remained in service until replaced by diesel locomotives. It was also called the McAdoo Mikado after William Gibbs McAdoo, head of the USRA.

Built

With later copies, over 50 railroads used the type, including the following:

Table of original USRA allocation^[2]
Railroad	Quantity	Class	Road numbers	Notes
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad	100	Q-3	4500–4599	^[3] Built 1918 by Baldwin. Scrapped 1959. 4500 preserved.
Chicago and Alton Railroad	10	L-4	875–884	Built 1918 by ALCO. To Alton Railroad 4385–4394, class Q-8.^[4] Scrapped 1941-1952
Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad	15	N-2	1925–1939	^[5] Built 1918 by ALCO-Schenectady. Scrapped 1942-1955.
Chicago Great Western Railway	10	L-3	750–759	^[6] Built 1918 by Baldwin. Scrapped 1944-1951.
Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railroad ("Monon")	5	J-2	550–554	^[7] Built 1918 by ALCO-Schenectady. Scrapped 1947-1949
Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad	9 (+11 from T&P)	K-55	2300–2308, 2309–2319	^[8] Built 1919 by Baldwin And ALCO. Scrapped 1942-1945 and scrapped 1947-1951
Grand Trunk Railway	15	M-3	440–454	Built 1918 by ALCO to Canadian National Railway 3700–3714, class S-3-a.^[9] Scrapped 1958-1959.
Grand Trunk Western Railroad	25	M-3	455–479	Built 1918 by ALCO to Canadian National Railway 3715–3739, class S-3-a.^[9] Scrapped 1959-1960. 4070/3734 preserved
Lehigh and Hudson River Railway	4	80	80–83	^[10] Built 1918 by Baldwin. Scrapped 1942-1948.
Louisville and Nashville Railroad	18	J-3	1500–1517	^[11] Built 1919 by Lima. Scrapped 1951-1954.
Maine Central Railroad	6	S	621–626	^[12] Built 1919 by ALCO. Scrapped 1953.
Missouri Pacific Railroad	15 (+10 from PRR)	MK-63	1301–1315, 1316–1325	^[13] Built 1926 by ALCO-Brooks. Scrapped 1947-1950
Monongahela Railway	10	L1	170-179	Built 1919 by ALCO-Schenectady. Scrapped 1941-1949
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway	10	L2-55	650–659	^[14] Built 1918 by ALCO-Schenectady. All scrapped in 1951.
New York Central Railroad	95	H-6a	5100–5194	Built 1918-1919 by ALCO and Lima. Renumbered 1800–1894, less 11 to PM.^[15] Scrapped 1944-1955.
New York Central subsidiary Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway	25	H-6a	6089–6113	Built 1918 by Baldwin. Renumbered 1700–1724.^[15] Scrapped 1944-1952.
New York Central subsidiary Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad	24	H-6a	400–423	^[15] Built 1918 by ALCO. 10 to SLSF, others to PM. Scrapped 1949-1950
New York Central subsidiary Lake Erie and Western Railroad	15	H-6o	5540–5554	Built 1918 by Baldwin. To Nickel Plate Road 586–600.^[15]^[16] Scrapped 1947-1957. 587 preserved.
New York Central subsidiary Michigan Central Railroad	20	H-6a	7970–7989	Built 1918 by ALCO. Renumbered 1770–1789.^[15] Scrapped 1947-1956
New York Central subsidiary Toledo and Ohio Central Railroad	15	H-6a	9732–9746	Built 1918 by ALCO. Renumbered 1732–1736.^[15] Scrapped 1945-1955
New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railway ("Nickel Plate Road")	10	H-6a	601–610	^[16] Built 1918 by ALCO. Scrapped 1940-1950
Pennsylvania Railroad	(33)	L2s	20006-20038	Built 1919 by ALCO. Refused;^[17] 10 to MP,^[13] 23 to SLSF. Scrapped 1948-1949
Pennsylvania Railroad subsidiary Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad	5	L2s	108-112	Built 1919 renumbered PRR 9627-9631.^[17] Scrapped 1949-1953
Pere Marquette Railway	(30)	K-8	1011–1040	Built 1919-1920 by ALCO and Lima. Acquired secondhand from IHB (14), NYC (11) and WAB (5).^[18] To C&O 2350–2379 Scrapped 1952
Pittsburgh and West Virginia Railway	3	H6	1000-1002	Built 1918 by Baldwin. Scrapped 1949-1951
Rutland Railway	6	H-6a	32–37	^[19] Built 1918 by ALCO-Schenectady. Scrapped 1951-1952
Seaboard Air Line Railroad	10	Q-1	390–399	^[20] Built 1918 by ALCO. Renumbered 490-499 in 1925. Scrapped 1954-1957.
St. Louis – San Francisco Railway	(23 from PRR, 10 from IHB)	4000	4000–4032	^[21] Built 1919 by ALCO. Scrapped 1950-1951. 4003 and 4018 preserved.
Southern Railway	25	Ms-1	4750–4774	^[22] 4765–4775. To subsidiary Cincinnati, New Orleans and Texas Pacific Railway. Renumbered 6285–6294 in 1920
Texas and Pacific Railway	(11)	H-1	550–560	Refused; to Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific.^[23]
Texas and Pacific Railway	11	H-2	800–810	Built by Baldwin in 1919
Union Pacific Railroad	20	MK-Spl	2295–2314	^[24] Renumbered 2480–2499 in 1920.
Union Pacific subsidiary Oregon Short Line Railroad	20	?	2535-2554	Built 1918 by Baldwin. Scrapped 1945-1953
Wabash Railroad	20	K-2	2201–2220	Built 1918 by ALCO. 5 to PM, replaced by 5 from WP ^[25] Scrapped 1950-1955: Wabash
Western Pacific Railroad	5	MK-55	321–325	Built 1919 by Baldwin . Sold to Wabash in 1920.^[26] Scrapped 1949-1956
Totals	625

Copies

Table of USRA copies
Railroad	Quantity	Class	Road numbers	Notes
Akron, Canton and Youngstown Railroad	7
Atlantic Coast Line Railroad	74
Canadian National Railway (Grand Trunk (Western))	18	S-3	3740-3757	^[27]
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway	3
Chicago and Alton Railroad	5	L-4a	885–889	to Alton Railroad 4395–4399, class Q-8a^[4]
Chicago and Illinois Midland Railway	9
Detroit and Toledo Shore Line Railroad	11
Florida East Coast Railway	15	701	701–715	^[28]
Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway	1
Louisville and Nashville Railroad	75	J-3	1518–1592	^[11]
Midland Valley Railroad	16
Missouri Pacific subsidiary International-Great Northern Railroad	10	MK-63	1101–1110	^[13]
Mobile and Ohio Railroad	37	450	450–486	^[29]
Ferrocarriles Nacionales de México	56
Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway	12	L2A-55	660–671	^[14]
New York, Chicago and St. Louis Railway ("Nickel Plate Road")	61	H-6b–H-6f	611–671	^[16]
Oklahoma City-Ada-Atoka Railway	68
Pere Marquette Railway	10	K-5	1041–1050	to C&O 1060–1069^[18]
Seaboard Air Line Railroad	118	Q-3	334–451	^[20]
Southern Railway subsidiary Alabama Great Southern Railroad	10	Ms-1	6612–6621	^[22]
West Point Route (Atlanta and West Point Rail Road)	3	F	425–427	^[30]
West Point Route (Georgia Railroad)	7	F	320–326	^[30]
West Point Route (Western Railway of Alabama)	4	F	375–378	^[30]
Total	641

Preservation

Nine USRA Light Mikados both originals and copies are preserved.

No.	Builder	Year built	Post-USRA owner	Location	Disposition
4003	American Locomotive Company	1919	St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad	Fort Smith Trolley Museum	On Static Display
4018	Lima Locomotive Works	1919	St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad	Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark	On Static Display
587	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1918	New York, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad	Ravenna, Kentucky	Stored, awaiting restoration
624	Lima Locomotive Works	1922	New York, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad	Hammond, Indiana	On Static Display
639	Lima Locomotive Works	1923	New York, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad	Miller Park (Bloomington, Illinois)	On Static Display
4500	Baldwin Locomotive Works	1918	Baltimore and Ohio Railroad	B&O Railroad Museum	On Static Display
4070	American Locomotive Company	1918	Grand Trunk Railway	Cleveland, Ohio	Undergoing Restoration
2537	American Locomotive Company	1918	Union Pacific Railroad	Walla Walla, Washington	On Static Display
551	Lima Locomotive Works	1928	Chicago & Illinois Midland Railroad	St. Louis Transportation Museum	On Static Display

Related Research Articles

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-10-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, ten powered and coupled driving wheels on five axles, and no trailing wheels. This arrangement was often named Decapod, especially in the United States, although this name was sometimes applied to locomotives of 0-10-0 "Ten-Coupled" arrangement, particularly in the United Kingdom. Notable German locomotives of this type include the war locomotives of Class 52.

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, usually in a leading truck, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles and two trailing wheels on one axle, usually in a trailing truck. This configuration of steam locomotive is most often referred to as a Mikado, frequently shortened to Mike.

The USRA standard locomotives and railroad cars were designed by the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized rail system of the United States during World War I. 1,870 steam locomotives and over 100,000 railroad cars were built to these designs during the USRA's tenure. The locomotive designs in particular were the nearest the American railroads and locomotive builders ever got to standard locomotive types, and after the USRA was dissolved in 1920 many of the designs were duplicated in number, 3,251 copies being constructed overall. The last steam locomotive built for a Class I railroad in the United States, an 0-8-0 built by the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1953, was a USRA design. A total of 97 railroads used USRA or USRA-derived locomotives.

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-8-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles and no trailing wheels. Locomotives of this type are also referred to as eight coupled.

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives by wheel arrangement, a 2-6-6-2 is a locomotive with one pair of unpowered leading wheels, followed by two sets of three pairs of powered driving wheels and one pair of trailing wheels. The wheel arrangement was principally used on Mallet-type articulated locomotives, although some tank locomotive examples were also built. A Garratt locomotive or Golwé locomotive with the same wheel arrangement is designated 2-6-0+0-6-2 since both engine units are pivoting.

The USRA 0-6-0 was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. This was the standard light switcher locomotive of the USRA types, and was of 0-6-0 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or "C" in UIC classification.

The USRA 0-8-0 was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. This was the standard heavy switcher locomotive of the USRA types, and was of 0-8-0 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or "D" in UIC classification.

The USRA Heavy Mikado was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration (USRA), the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. These locomotives were of 2-8-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or 1′D1′ in UIC classification. A total of 233 locomotives were built to this plan for the USRA; postwar, it became a de facto standard design, which was built to the total of 957 locomotives including the USRA originals and all subsequent copies.

The USRA Heavy Santa Fe was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. These locomotives were of 2-10-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or 1′E1′ in UIC classification; this arrangement was commonly named "Santa Fe" in the United States. At the time, the Santa Fe was the largest non-articulated type in common use, primarily in slow drag freight duty in ore or coal service.

The USRA Light Santa Fe was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. These locomotives were of 2-10-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or 1′E1′ in UIC classification; this arrangement was commonly named "Santa Fe" in the United States. At the time, the Santa Fe was the largest non-articulated type in common use, primarily in slow drag freight duty in ore or coal service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Pacific 745</span> Preserved SP MK-5 class 2-8-2 locomotive

Southern Pacific 745 is a preserved 2-8-2 steam locomotive that was fabricated at the Southern Pacific Railroad's Algiers Shops at Algiers Point directly across the Mississippi River from New Orleans. With a 2-8-2 wheel configuration, 745 was built as a freight engine for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. The locomotive returned to service in 2004 after a restoration period. It is currently the only operating steam locomotive in Louisiana. After being located in Jefferson, Louisiana for many years, it was moved to the Timbermill Museum in nearby Garyville since late 2022.

Pennsylvania Railroad Class L1s were 2-8-2 "Mikado"-type steam locomotives that were used on the Pennsylvania Railroad during the early twentieth century. These 574 locomotives were manufactured between 1914 and 1919 by the railroad's own Juniata Shops as well as the Baldwin Locomotive Works (205) and the Lima Locomotive Works (25).

St. Louis–San Francisco 4018 is a class USRA Light 2-8-2 "Mikado" steam locomotive which operated for three decades hauling freight between Bessemer and Birmingham, Alabama, on the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway. It went on display at the Alabama State Fairgrounds in 1952 and is one of only a few locomotives of its type that survive.

The USRA Light Pacific was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. It was the standard light passenger locomotive of the USRA types, with a 4-6-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or 2′C1′ in UIC classification.

The USRA 2-8-8-2 was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. These locomotives were of 2-8-8-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or (1'D)'D1' in UIC classification. A total of 106 locomotives were built to this plan for the USRA; postwar, it became a de facto standard design.

St. Louis–San Francisco 4003 is a 2-8-2, Mikado type, standard gauge steam railway locomotive built by the American Locomotive Company in 1919 as a standard USRA Light Mikado for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The PRR, for unknown reasons, rejected 33 of 38 locomotives in the order. The United States Railroad Administration reassigned 23 of them to the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway (SLSF), also known as the "Frisco". The Frisco also received 10 sisters from the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad, making 33 in all. The locomotive is now on display at the Fort Smith Trolley Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

The USRA Heavy Pacific was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. This was the standard heavy passenger locomotive of the USRA types, and was 4-6-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or 2′C1′ in UIC classification.

The USRA Light Mountain was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. This was the standard light freight locomotive of the USRA types, and was of 4-8-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or 2′D1′ in UIC classification.

The USRA Heavy Mountain was a USRA standard class of steam locomotive designed under the control of the United States Railroad Administration, the nationalized railroad system in the United States during World War I. This was the standard light freight locomotive of the USRA types, and was of 4-8-2 wheel arrangement in the Whyte notation, or 2′D1′ in UIC classification.

Baltimore and Ohio 4500 is a 2-8-2 "USRA Light Mikado" steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in July 1918 for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) as a member of the Q-3 class.

References

1 2 Drury p.409
↑ "USRA Locomotives". Steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
↑ Drury pp.39–40, 47
1 2 Drury pp.436, 438
↑ Drury pp.440–442
↑ Drury pp.107, 110
↑ Drury pp.112–113
↑ Drury pp.125, 129
1 2 Edson & Corley p.168
↑ Drury pp.213–214
1 2 Drury pp.227, 230
↑ Drury pp.233, 235
1 2 3 Drury pp.248, 254
1 2 Drury pp.258, 260
1 2 3 4 5 6 Drury pp.268, 278
1 2 3 Drury pp.281, 286–287
1 2 Drury pp.322, 328
1 2 Drury pp.80, 88
↑ Drury pp.338–339
1 2 Drury pp.349, 353
↑ Drury pp.342, 345
1 2 Drury pp.369, 372–373
↑ Drury pp.387, 390
↑ Drury pp.397, 402
↑ Drury pp.420, 422
↑ Drury pp.430–431
↑ Clegg, Anthony & Corley, Ray (1969). Canadian National Steam Power. Trains & Trolleys: Montreal. pp. 91–95.
↑ Drury p.185
↑ Drury p.256
1 2 3 Drury pp.30–31

Bibliography

Drury, George H. (1993), Guide to North American Steam Locomotives, Waukesha, Wisconsin: Kalmbach Publishing Company, ISBN 0-89024-206-2, LCCN 93041472
Edson, William D.; Corley, Raymond F. "Locomotives of the Grand Trunk Railway". Railroad History (147). Boston, MA: The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Inc. ISSN 0090-7847.

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[Drury-USRA-1] 1 2 Drury p.409

[2] "USRA Locomotives". Steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved 2009-02-25.

[3] Drury pp.39–40, 47

[Drury-C&A-4] 1 2 Drury pp.436, 438

[5] Drury pp.440–442

[6] Drury pp.107, 110

[7] Drury pp.112–113

[8] Drury pp.125, 129

[RH147-168-9] 1 2 Edson & Corley p.168

[10] Drury pp.213–214

[Drury-L&N-11] 1 2 Drury pp.227, 230

[12] Drury pp.233, 235

[Drury-MP-13] 1 2 3 Drury pp.248, 254

[Drury-NC-14] 1 2 Drury pp.258, 260

[Drury-NYC-15] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Drury pp.268, 278

[Drury-NKP-16] 1 2 3 Drury pp.281, 286–287

[Drury-PRR-17] 1 2 Drury pp.322, 328

[Drury-C&O-18] 1 2 Drury pp.80, 88

[19] Drury pp.338–339

[Drury-SAL-20] 1 2 Drury pp.349, 353

[SLSF-21] Drury pp.342, 345

[Drury-SOU-22] 1 2 Drury pp.369, 372–373

[Drury-T&P-23] Drury pp.387, 390

[Drury-UP-24] Drury pp.397, 402

[25] Drury pp.420, 422

[Drury-WP-26] Drury pp.430–431

[c&c-27] Clegg, Anthony & Corley, Ray (1969). Canadian National Steam Power. Trains & Trolleys: Montreal. pp. 91–95.

[Drury-FEC-28] Drury p.185

[Drury-M&O-29] Drury p.256

[Drury-AWP-30] 1 2 3 Drury pp.30–31

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v t e USRA locomotives
Switchers	0-6-0 0-8-0
Light	2-8-2 2-10-2 4-6-2 4-8-2
Heavy	2-8-2 2-10-2 4-6-2 4-8-2
Articulated	2-6-6-2 2-8-8-2