America's Obscure Steam Locomotives

Given that there are thousands of steam locomotives classes produced throughout the years, there are plenty that are popular while some fade into obscurity. From late-berkshires to one-offs, here are 6 steam locomotives that are usually forgotten, described by a canadian railfan.
Music, videos, photos and information belongs to there respective owners.

[@Pensyfan19]

Great collection of obscure steamers! I hope this topic becomes a series for the channel since it seems like a great chance to give light upon some of North America's forgotten workhorses.

[@Jaidencharlotte]

I find it rather funny that an American design took inspiration from a British design that was an evolution of another British design which took inspiration from American designs

[@russellgxy2905]

Buffalo actually does fit the A-2's quite well, size and power wise, but I feel like Berkshire works just as well symbolically. The A-2's were technically a subsidiary class of the NYC, in the same way the very first 2-8-4's (B&A A-1) were. Always found it funny that through subsidiaries, the NYC had the first and last class of Berks, but never used them for their _actual_ mainlines

[@Elliottblancher]

Alfred E. Pearlman: I WANT THAT STEAM LOCOMOTIVE!!!!!

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

Not Buffalo. Maybe something like Anderondaks (mountains) or Valcour ( an island in New York )

[@rfirtfan2809]

We need more of this! Also railfans inventing names for steam locomotive classes should definitely be a thing

[@railmastergaming]

I do all the time. In fact I draw designs!

[@danius_huganius]

next level foaming? yeah well that happens alot pretty much,

[@DC4260Productions]

I haven't heard of most of these designs, apart from those weird Boston & Albany tank engines. They really do look like a tender engine that's just been crammed into a tank engine frame, sort of like New Zealand's WAB class (which were 4-6-4T versions of the AB Pacific). Incidentally I'm surprised you didn't cover the Baldwin 4-10-2 No. 60000.

[@PowerTrain611]

The CNJ also had a 4-6-4T inspired by a CN design. One of the CN units still exists at Steamtown.

[@Drockthe3rd]

For a time there was 3 more NKP Hudsons. 174 was sold to the Louisiana Eastern in 1959, followed by 175, and 173 in 1961. All were cut up in 1963

[@StephenCarlBaldwin]

Excellent video on a rich topic -- great suggestion that A2 berk be designated "The Buffalo Class."

[@rivitedrailfan]

Great video! Especially liked the part about ICRR 1/2499.

[@AmityBlightAndSP4449Fan]

Maybe one of these deserve to be resurrected as full size replicas except for B&O J1 4-4-4 Jubilee #2 “Lady Baltimore” because how terrible its performance was.

[@RyansColoradoRailProductions]

I recognized the location of the pic of DRGW 1803 right away, it’s the bridge just north of Monument, CO where NS 8103 rolled over it so many years later. Video of it is on my channel. Compare the two - it’s the exact same bridge.

[@TheRandomRailfan]

You've gotta do some obscure electrics too. The PRR is a treasure trove for stuff like that.

[@railmastergaming]

i loved this video and you found some pretty interesting locomotives i never knew of! also 0:11 big boy isnt actually a mallet. it utilizes equal steam pressure throughout all 4 cylinders.

[@ronanvave560]

Yup, those would be called simple articulateds.

[@trainguy2155]

Ahh yes Baltimore and Ohio n-1 duplex such a strange, beautiful and stupid locomotive design with a complementary water tube boiler and cylinder that face RIgH NEXT To THE FIREBOX great job people on making a failed engine. But in all seriousness I do like the n-1 for how unique it is.

[@RoyxlPFX]

Heads up for you, Cowl. ALCOs workshop is pronounced (Shke-neck-ta-dee) Schenectady.

[@coolcobra_5582]

Before this video I didn’t know that the NYC had any Berkshire but now I wish I style didn’t because they look ugly to me an the name Buffalo fit them perfectly

[@sargentrowell81]

The Big Boy was not a Mallet. I know you didn't explicitly say that it was buy you showed it on screen as you said "monster mallet's."

[@SodorTrain1225]

The Nickel Plate Hudsons are some of my favorites, as are all Nickel Plate engines.

[@lian3101]

if this becomes a series you need to cover the CB&Q hudsons and the B&LE 2-10-4s they are awesome and most people dont know about them

[@ronanvave560]

Especially 643.

[@Mart_7512]

The CB&Q S-4 is a great example. In fact, 2 of them were Aeolus streamlined and No. 3000 is preserved.

[@lian3101]

@@Mart_7512 alot of them are preserved, even 4000, one that was streamlined for the aeolus is preserved. I have no idea how they are so forgotten about

[@Mart_7512]

@@lian3101 Oh, and I forgot it's 3002, not 3000. I found out about the Aeolus in a whistles video 2 years ago. Sadly it's deleted most likely.

[@Haya_archive1]

2:01 my most favorite NKP steam locomotive

[@williamclarke4510]

Another NKP Hudson was part of the Paulsen Spence collection - Louisiana Eastern. When Mr. Spence died, his heirs scrapped most of them. The survivors went to Stone Mountain.

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

This is a good video. While we’re on the topic of unusual steam locomotives, do you think you could cover the US army transportation corps s160?

[@Toni73RU]

S2 достаточно известный локомотив чтобы не упоминать его тут?)

[@ErieRRfan]

Yes, the S2 Berks are very overrated

[@luisitobardajibenitez8013]

I like when you showed the switcher and it looks like an average tender engine in europe. Feels bad

[@uncinarynin]

Berkshire! We had them in Austria, the class BBÖ 214, CFR 142 or DRB and ÖBB 12. One of the original Austrian series (not operational) and one of the Romanian series (but rebuilt to look Austrian, operational) is preserved. I remember riding in a train behind the latter. Good times!

[@maciekkra539]

CFR142 version with the top mounted smoke deflectors and with that boiler cowling, possibly the most beautifull "Berkshire" in the world:)

[@blackbirdgaming8147]

It’s worth noting that the A2 Berkshires were built so late that the tenders had to be subcontracted to what I believe was Lima.

[@AlcoLoco251]

Sad that you didn't mention that three of the NKP Hudson were purchased by Paulson Spence for the Louisiana Eastern. Sadly they were scrapped upon his death.

[@vaclavmacgregor2464]

(Could have been worse we could have lost GMO 4-6-2!!!!)

[@1225polarexpress]

I think a perfect name for the NYC A-2 berkshires would be manhattan I just think it fits well and when you say it it sounds good For Example: the Manhattan class

[@Railman1225]

A few things I just wanted to say: 1. Please tell me you didn't just call the Big Boys Mallets. . _.a lot of people are gonna be upset because they're simple articulateds_ 2. It's pronounced "sce-nec-te-dy"(yes, the h is silent). You're welcome. 3. I _somewhat_ recently found out that the 2-8-4 nickname is pronounced "Berk-sure". . .don't ask me why, it makes about as much sense to me as it does to you!

[@jaredhebert942]

You just netted yourself another subscriber! While I know about the engines of Britain than our own all-American breeds, I'm glad to see the Boston & Albany commuter tanks get some love, since we never embraced tank engines as much as the Brits and these guys are a neat oddity (forgot there were 2-6-4Ts as well as 2-6-6Ts); if I was hired to work on Thomas & Friends, I'd be tempted to write in a character based on the B&A 2-6-6Ts

[@raymondleggs5508]

One of those Tank locos is at strasburg in the rusty locomotive line!

[@844SteamFan]

I was kinda hoping you would mention something from the Omaha Road (Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway, reporting marks CMO [you may see this on some UP hoppers]), as it has some pretty obscure locomotives, as well as being pretty obscure itself. Also, boxpok Mikado

[@ChargerusPrime]

The B&A berkshires were good once the ATSF and SP got em. And hudsons did JUST FINE on freight. The CPR used them on EVERYTHING up in Canada and the NYC ran them on 10,000 drag freights on the water level route. The philosophy is the same sa the SP's.. if it runs, get it on a train and get the fuck outta town NOW.

[@rocktrout8773]

In terms of the NYC A2s, they would have been named Berkshires, as the Boston & Albany, a NYC subsidiary, named the Berkshire class after the mountains they ran through.

[@mikestudioz216]

6:07 I call the 2-6-6 and 4-6-6 arrangements Albanys (Light Albany and Heavy Albanys respectively) after the only railroad to use such wheel arrangements

[@Combes_]

I call the 2-6-6Ts "Suburban"s!

[@mikestudioz216]

@@Combes_ No, a 2-4-6 is a Suburban

[@Combes_]

@@mikestudioz216 Really? I forgot that on wikipedia it was "Mogul" (yes wierd ik) and not "Suburban"

[@mikestudioz216]

@@Combes_ Yea, 2-6-6 and 4-6-6 don’t have any designation on the Whyte Notation, so I call them Light and Heavy Albanys

[@Combes_]

@@mikestudioz216 I guess you could call a 4-6-6T a "Boston & Albany", or a "Pocket Hudson" considering these were shrunk down NYC Hudsons

[@steamandsmoke97]

A few minor corrections on pronunciation: 🚫Berk-shyre 👍Berkshire=Berk-sheer 🚫shUnahdablablah 👍Schenectady=Sken-Neck-Teddy 🚫AHLbany 👍Albany=ALLBany

[@matthewpowell2429]

I like the NKP Hudsons, I saw #170 at St Louis over 10 years ago. I'm familiar with the heavy tank engines, though the ones I mostly think of are the Canadian National/Ex-GTW 4-6-4Ts, one of whom (#47) I saw at Steamtown earlier this year. People need to know more about these steamers before all memories of them are gone forever.

[@jordandorsett3106]

The Boston and Maine T1's (the Berkshires you shows) looks odd and very erie

[@Pershingtank]

Honorable mention: ANY 4-8-0. Rather unpopular wheel arrangement , with only ~5000 made worldwide.

[@TomedysTrains]

It's a shame that most of the locomotives in this video didn't make it into preservation. I would think preserving at least one of each locomotive class would've been beneficial to all, for both business and history's sake. As for the New York Central A-2 Berkshires, there's no need to change their wheel arrangement name from Berkshire to something else. It was the Boston & Albany, which was part of the New York Central, that ordered the first 2-8-4 steam locomotive in tender engine form, and thus, the New York Central served the Berkshire sub mountain range of the Appalachian Mountains.

[@howiesmith1504]

Berkshire is pronounced "BERK-shr" or "BERK-sheer." And Albany NY is pronounced AWL-ba-nee, not AL-ba-nee.

[@michaelmeliambro5117]

Surprised you didn't bring up Milwaukee Road's F6 Class 'Baltics' or the ERIE K-5's, the only TRUE USRA Heavy Pacifics ever built.

[@JimmyCasket02]

There’s a locomotive near Duluth mn more specifically in proctor that’s a 2-8-8-4, DMIR #225 it was primarily used to haul iron

[@alejandrocordero2492]

Wow😲😳. I gotta admit, those NKP L-1A Hudsons look pretty 😍🤩🎥🇺🇲🤠😎🤙👍✅💯👌badass cool-looking. Nice vid 😄👍 by the way! Keep up 😃👍 the great work 👍😎💪😃✅💯!

[@gregvassilakos]

The name Berkshire came from the Boston & Albany, which was a New York Central subsidiary. I'm fairly certain the New York Central would have been comfortable with calling them Berkshires.

[@louisvillenashvillerailroa5269]

You need to cover the L&N K4-K7 class, beautiful streamlined engine and when talking about the K7 it was L&Ns only tri cylinder (tho removed when it was streamliner) and the flagship engine for L&N and PRRs South Wind passenger service

[@GMan9029]

Kinda shocked you didn’t mention the MILW Baltic’s, they’re not talked about all that much.

[@RHTeebs]

4:25 Instead of the "Buffalo", how about the "Genesee", after the Genesee River? Or, if you wanted to stray away from rivers, you could always name them "Seneca", after the Seneca Native American Nation.

[@TheLocomotiveEngineer]

B&O 5600 makes for a fascinating study. Of the three Emerson steam locomotives, it's always been my favorite - but that's probably because I like both Duplexes and Vanderbilt tenders.

[@stuartdougherty4078]

I knew of 5600's existence. I can't believe their is a physical photo.

[@TheLocomotiveEngineer]

@@stuartdougherty4078 They're rare to come across, but there are actually a fair number of photos that still exist of it. The B&O was quite proud of it at first, and it naturally caught the attention of the railfan community at the time, so it was documented about as well as any other experimental locomotive of that era.

[@soniomagr5498]

Since I live in Massachusetts, I'd like to see a B&M Berkshire back in service. P.S. My man can't pronounce Schenectady correctly. >w

[@willhorowitz8806]

I’m going to bet the A-2s would have been named “Ohio’s.” Since the others were named after rivers and the A-2s worked on the P&LE.

[@b3j8]

I always thought the NYC Berkshires had a modern look to them. But in daily use, they weren't well liked by crews. They tended to have issues w/driver slippage. Some had problems w/various appliances, or were poor steamers. Decent looking, but not great performers.

[@rannorgana]

If the NKP 4-6-4's had of been made 6 weeks? earlier, the 4-6-4 wheel arrangement would not of been called Hudson and would've carried a river name from the Ohio or Indiana states.

[@GoredonTheDestroyer]

I was half expecting this to be *_another_* side hustle of Justin from WTYP if I'm being honest. Like instead of making Franklin he's just doing weird videos on old trains. Well, _more_ videos on old trains.

[@fantailspringdale]

Come on mate, the most unique locomotive was the Jersey Central's Camelback ten wheeler. You missed a great opportunity to showcase the Big Little Railroad!!

[@lemmythebulldog8812]

Currently trying to restore liRR’s #8 in oyster bay. We don’t have the funding to get a heritage line but we’re trying to make it a mobile non running locomotive.

[@OriginalBongoliath]

NYC's Berkshire name should stick to NYC's naming convention of rivers it went by for consistencies' sake. Maybe call it an Ohio or Mahoning as they were two rivers that were along the old P&LE line that type of locomotive worked on since it was a subsidiary.

[@LucasTheDookis]

As somebody who lives in Schenectady. It’s pronounced skin-neck-titty. Hope it helps lmao

[@AlexThePatriot]

How many steam locomotives are currently preserved in the U.S as of 2023?

[@KibuFox]

It should be noted that the Boston and Albany locomotives aren't "tank" engines. They're a variation of the Mason design, which included the Mason Bogey, and Forney locomotive. They lack key components to be qualified as tank engines. The specifics of a tank engine require that the water must be carried either, astride the boiler (saddle tank), beside the boiler (side and pannier tank), or under the boiler (well tank). Because the Boston and Albany locomotives do none of these, they don't meet the criteria for a 'tank' engine. In fact, historically, they weren't even classed as 'tank' engines by the railroad. They were called 'suburban' locomotives. Their design spawned out of an understanding by the railroad that they needed a locomotive that could work commuter lines easily, without needing to be turned around at the end of a run. Since there were regular stops at platforms, having a small water capacity at the rear wasn't a hinderance, as the locomotive would be expected to simply 'top up' its water at stations. They also only operated on very short commuter runs, where their overall short range, both due to low water capacity, and low fuel capacity, wouldn't be a problem. It's only been in recent history, in fact the past ten years or so, that these have wrongly been classed as "tank" engines. The exact reason the misclassification happened isn't exactly certain, but it's believed to have originated from a magazine article in Trains magazine, which was reportedly 'corrected' in a follow up article.

[@the_mississippian_railfan]

For the NYC 2-8-4’s you could go with the NYC’s traditional type of naming things after rivers and name them after the river the P&LE mainline was on where they worked for most of there lives giving you the the name the “NYC Monongaheilia”

[@Railhog2102]

The first Berkshires were actually built for the NYC's Boston & Albany subsidiary, They were named so became of the Berkshire mountains

[@michaelstrains4014]

3:14 Oooh strongly (and respectfully) disagree that the A2s had uneventful lives. There’s a whole book on their developmental and operational history, also highlighting the quite comical head-butting between NYC and subsidiary P&LE who operated them, if I find the name of the book I’ll add the title here. Definitely worth the read.

[@robertbalazslorincz8218]

"Monster Mallets" *shows a Big Boy, which is technically a simple-articulated*

[@nikerailfanningttm9046]

To be honest the NKP Hudson’s with smoke deflecting ears look like “baby” FEF-3’s. That’s what they are, baby FEFS!

[@crazyjack3357]

For the b&o locos they probably meant to preserve one but some how ended up scraped like what happened to there Baldwin em1 2-8-8-4

[@arthursparkman7800]

3:25 XD love that those T1a's give off such backrooms energy

[@Lanetrainz]

Third

[@KingOp0ssum_II]

First

[@metalgear6531]

6:32 "Y'know what? Fuck you." [Carbines your Hudson]

[@Glaudge]

a 4-driver locomotive with anything other than the Stephenson valve gear always looks strange. also most of these entries weren't *that* obscure.

[@marcleslac2413]

4:07 tut tut, not scapped, its nyc, they were all chainsawed by pearlman.

[@Dat-Mudkip]

It never really occurred to me that tank engines basically don't exist in America until you pointed it out. You think living here I would have noticed that sooner...

[@ThomasTalksAlot]

I feel like SMSR General gets a bad wrap tbh, Yeah the red paints a little to bright, buts not like they intend to run it anytime soon.

[@JacquesDufrene]

1:56 Bring Red River and Gulf 104 back to longleaf!

[@urbanfox53]

Quite a sad video especially when you think it was us Brits that invented the steam engine which is often over looked.

[@woodrubber4538]

I never heard anyone talk about Union Railroad's 0-10-2

[@Ian-qs3fz]

The Big Boy is not a Mallet The big boys a simple articulated that uses steam once in both cylinders whereas a Mallet uses steam twice in both cylinders once in the smaller set and then a second time in the larger lower pressure set of cylinders

[@AlexHill1991]

America needs some mythical island that preserves extinct steam locomotives

[@jeffreyamlung3338]

I dig the song from Railroad Tycoon 3 around the 2 minute mark

[@PowerTrain611]

Schenectady is pronounced skin-neck-titty. Just saying.

[@JustAGigolo1985]

3:42 It's pronounced to my understanding Ska-Nec-Tady

[@1950FarmallH]

Please learn the proper pronunciation of Schenectady.

[@thelongislandplanesandtrai3638]

Ngl I think the prr Q2 is underrated aka 2-4-6-2 or 2-4-6-4 I forgot

[@jquarters1896]

I think I have found some obscure steam locomotives I want to build out of Legos.

[@Scody-kc2pr]

For me the most icon it trop of train design one with the Chicago and winois Midland 4-0-0s

[@seven8n235]

For Pete's sake..... SKIN neck Tah dee. It ain't that hard

[@genesisrailfan1507]

Is it me or is the NKP hudsons looked like a squashed version of the UP's FEF northerns

[@aj3751]

As a New Yorker, 3:40 had me dying. "Ska-neck-ta-dee"

[@choochoooo317]

1:56 "Texas its me im red!" "no i want to hear from the real general not some modern imposter."

[@MarkInLA]

What about camel backs ?? There sure were lots of those at one time...

[@AndrewTheRocketCityRailfan4014]

Here’s another batch of obscure American locomotives: Pere Marquette Mikados Pere Marquette 2-10-2 “Santa Fe’s” CB&Q 2-10-4 “Colorado’s” Southern Railway “Mountain” types Santa Fe 4197 Clinchfield and D&RGW Challengers. Northern Pacific Yellowstones

[@amtrakproductions-mx9ib]

And also the illinois terminal railroad steam locomotives

[@michaelbenitez539]

I'm sad we didn't have an American 2-6-4 Adriatic

[@Amigafur]

Big. Boy. Is. Not. A. Mallet! Big Boy is a simple articulate.

[@SynchroScore]

That Stone Mountain Scenic 4-4-0 causes me pain.

[@survroproductions200]

just say shnectahdie locomotive works

[@Reading3412Studios]

didn't even mention the union railroad 0-10-2s? Shame.

[@Train115]

The C&O H-7 class is very rarely talked about

[@bluebear6570]

Berkshire is pronounced "barksher" not burk-shire!

[@trainfan-ks5hk]

Oh oh oh the NYC had an Atlantic that had four cylinders

[@robswan4170]

Genesee would be a good name for those locomotives

[@KingOp0ssum_II]

Big boy isn't a mallet it's a simple articulated