USRA 2-8-2 Mikados

[greatnorthernn-]

Good video! Great Northern had 8 classes of Mikados some of which GN built themselves out of retired articulated Mallet compound locomotives of the 1906 - 1910 era. When GN rebuilt the O-7 class into the O-8's in 1944 - 46 they ended up with an excellent locomotive which was probably the pinnacle of power for the 2-8-2 wheel arrangement.

[GreyFox]

I like the 1'D1' wheel arrangement the most. Not too big overall, large enough firebox and stable in both directions.
My most favorite locomotive of this type is the Reko DR 41.

[felixtheswiss]

Very succesful locomotives based on this light mikado was the french 141R class delivered towards the end of ww2

[matthewpowell]

Mikados are one of my top favorite steam engines, with NKP 587 being my favorite of them all.

[seth]

I have to say Steve, the intros to these videos are great. Keep up the great work with these videos!

[billtimmons]

The greater adhesion factor of the "light Miles" is counterintuitive. With less weight, slightly larger drivers, and generally smaller dimensions, I'd expect it to be the opposite. This a very good video. I enjoy the hobby even more because of this kind of content. Thank you.

[cdjhyoung]

I believe that post WWI the C&O ordered slightly modified examples of the heavy USRA Mikes. C&O didn't rely on these engine in main line freight service as much as other road, depending instead on its much larger fleet of 2-6-6-2's instead.

[paulw.woodring]

I don't believe any USRA Heavies were preserved. They were nowhere near as common as the lights. We almost lost B&O 4500 when the railroad was in financial straits in the 1950s. It and P-7 Pacific 5300 were sold to Striegal Scrap in Baltimore, but fortunately were set aside and later went back to the museum where they are treasured displays to this day. While similar in appearance, SR MIke #4501 predates the USRA design by something like 5 years. Light MIkes GTW #4070 and NKP #587 are two examples that have operated in the excursion era.

[Bob.W.]

Must be Mike night. Another channel just featured the CNW Class J Mikes.

[TruNub]

I'll take 4501 over any other mikado.

[paulflak]

TOTALLY MISSED the racism factor. MIKADOS were based on the JAPANESE design hence the name, in 1941 all US and Canadian Rail Roads renamed them MIKES and found any issue that was trivial enough to raise objections to the design.