1. Home
 ›
2. Fallen Flags
 ›
3. Norfolk & Western
 ›
4. Steam Roster

N&W Steam Locomotive Roster: Post 1900

Published: October 3, 2024

By: Adam Burns

Few other railroads developed steam technology to the extent of the Norfolk & Western Railway.   At the turn of the 20th century the system primarily relied on 2-8-0s for general freight service.

Although Consolidations remained a staple of the N&W's fleet, in the modern steam era the railroad primarily relied on large 2-8-8-2s and 2-6-6-4s for freight operations while 4-6-2s and 4-8-4s generally handled passenger assignments.

In many cases, the Roanoke Shops directly produced new steam locomotives, especially after 1930 with modern technologies such as Timken roller bearings, automatic lubricators, and automatic stokers.

During the 1940s the N&W developed what it called the "Lubritorium," a modern, brightly lit engine facility which could fully service a steam locomotive in just 90 minutes or less.  These facilities were located at Shaffers Crossing (Roanoke), Bluefield, Williamson, Portsmouth, and Pulaski.

The N&W was a titan of Appalachian railroading, carving a distinct identity rooted in its efficient transport of coal, a lifeline fueling industries nationwide. Emerging from a series of mergers and expansions, the N&W's history is a testament to strategic foresight and technical innovation.

The N&W was formally established in 1881 through the consolidation of several smaller railroads. However, its roots trace back to 1838, beginning with the City Point Railroad from Petersburg to City Point, Virginia. With an initial focus on passenger services, the discovery of rich coal fields in the Appalachian region shifted the N&W's trajectory towards freight.

The acquisition of the Shenandoah Valley and Lynchburg and Durham Railroads in the late 1800s emphasized this pivot, effectively turning the N&W into a coal-transport juggernaut.

The early 20th century witnessed the N&W becoming a pioneering force in locomotive technology, especially steam. It engineered some of the most advanced steam locomotives, including the renowned J-class and Y-class, which exemplified power and efficiency.

These iron horses became the backbone of its freight operations, hauling staggering volumes of coal with a distinctive efficiency that the N&W was celebrated for.

World War II bolstered the N&W's significance, as coal demand surged, cementing its status as a logistical powerhouse. Despite the national trend towards dieselization in the post-war years, the N&W held out, committing to steam well into the 1950s, epitomized by their slogan "Precision Transportation."

Modernization eventually necessitated change, and by 1960, the N&W completed its shift to diesel. The following years were marked by strategic mergers, notably with the Virginian Railway in 1959 and later with Nickel Plate Road and Wabash Railroad in 1964. These expansions extended its reach into Midwest markets, augmenting its dominance.

In 1982, the N&W merged with the Southern Railway, forming the Norfolk Southern Corporation, a colossus that preserved the N&W's legacy of innovation and resilience, ensuring its storied name continued to reverberate through the annals of American railroad history.

The pride of Roanoke; Norfolk & Western 4-8-4 #600 (J), 2-6-6-4 #1203 (A), and compound 2-8-8-2 #2133 (Y-6) pose together at Shaffer's Crossing, Virginia (Roanoke) in 1945.

Switchers

Norfolk & Western 4-8-2 #122 departs Richmond's Broad Street Station, circa 1955. American-Rails.com collection

Passenger Locomotives

Freight Locomotives

Norfolk & Western 4-8-2 #111 (K1), one of the road's early Mountains built by the Roanoke Shops in 1917, is seen here in service at Petersburg, Virginia, circa 1950. Fred Byerly photo. American-Rails.com collection.

Articulated Designs

Resources

• Dixon, Thomas W. Norfolk & Western Steam:  The Last 30 Years.  Forest:  TLC Publishing, 2013.

• Drury, George H. Guide To North American Steam Locomotives: Revised Edition. Waukesha: Kalmbach Books, 2015.

• Morrison, Tom. American Steam Locomotive In The Twentieth Century. Jefferson: McFarland & Company, Inc., 2019.

• Schafer, Mike. Classic American Railroads, Volume III. Osceola: MBI Publishing, 2003.

• Warden, William E. Norfolk & Western Railway's Magnificent Mallets, The Y Class 2-8-8-2s. TLC Publishing, 1993.