. A 2-8-8-2, in the Whyte notation for describing steam locomotive wheel arrangements, is an articulated locomotive with a two-wheel leading truck, two sets of eight driving wheels, and a two-wheel trailing truck. These locomotives usually employ the Mallet principle of articulation, with a swinging front engine and a rigidly attached rear engine. The 2-8-8-2 was a design largely limited to American locomotive builders.

The first 2-8-8-2 was built in 1909 by Baldwin, who sold two to the Southern Pacific Railroad (classified MC1 ), and then three each to the Union Pacific and UP-owned Oregon River and Navigation Company . Baldwin conceived the type as an expansion of the 2-6-6-2 permitting a greater tractive effort.

The next order for the type was from the Southern Pacific; these differed in being cab-forward locomotives , so that the crew could have better visibility and breathing in the SP's long tunnels and snowsheds . They were very successful, and SP continued to order cab-forward locomotives, building an eventual fleet of 256 of numerous classes; later cab-forwards were 4-8-8-2s.

The 2-8-8-2 proved itself to be a capable hauler on mountain grades, enabling the replacement of several smaller locomotives and hauling longer trains than before. They were not fast; they hauled at drag freight speeds, up to 25 mph. The locomotives were adopted by a broad spectrum of mountain railroads, including the Norfolk & Western, Southern, Virginian, Clinchfield , Denver & Rio Grande , Reading, Western Maryland, Missouri Pacific, Frisco, and the Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range.

References

• Carson, Neil. 2-8-8-2. Retrieved from http://www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/815lfopk.asp on 2004-12-07 .