N&W 475

Strasburg Rail Road (ex N&W) 475
Strasburg Rail Road #475 former Norfolk & Western Railway
Power type	Steam
Builder	Baldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number	28343
Build date	1906
Configuration	4-8-0
UIC classification	2′D
Gauge	4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver diameter	56 in (1.422 m)
Boiler pressure	200 psi (1.38 MPa)
Heating surface: Total	2,940 sq ft (273 m2)
Cylinders	Two
Cylinder size	21 × 30 in (533 × 762 mm)
Valve gear	Stephenson (inside); later Baker
Tractive effort	40,163 lbf (178.65 kN)
Career	Norfolk & Western Railway
Class	M
Number in class	125
Preserved	On Strasburg Rail Road

Strasburg Rail Road #475 is a former Norfolk & Western Railway M class 4-8-0 steam locomotive. It was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1906 as part of the N&W's first order of class M numbered 450–499. It is the only known 4-8-0 operating in North America.

Cab Arrangement

Like the W class 2-8-0 Consolidation, there was no cab deck behind the backhead, the fireman shoveled coal from the tender deck and, along with the engineer, sat beside the firebox because the firebox came right to the back of the cab. The throttle lever hung down over the shoulder of the firebox, the reverser lever was in front of the engineer against the side of the firebox, with the water glass just above. The injector controls (A water valve, the overflow valve, and the operating lever.) were in front of him against the outer wall of the cab. Although slightly cramped, visibility to the front was superb. On the fireman's side, there was a water glass, injector controls, and a drop seat arranged like the engineer's.

Customizing

The Strasburg Rail Road has made several changes to the 475.

• Its current tender is an USRA 10,000 gallon tender modified by the Norfolk & Western for hand firing, which was originally fitted with an automatic stoker designed for a K-2 class 4-8-2 passenger locomotive.
• The left side water leg was trimmed back to give the fireman room to swing his shovel.
• The injectors were relocated from outboard of the No. 4 drivers to aft of them, so they can be operated from controls near the step up to the cab, to the rear of the seats.
• The independent and automatic brake levers have been moved back to be more convenient for backing up operation (Half of its mileage is made backing up.).
• In October 2004, 475 was backdated to its original as-built N&W appearance. Its headlight was relocated to above the center of the smokebox, the tender relettered "Norfolk & Western", and cab letters modified.
• In very late July 2008, 475's tender was re-lettered to "Strasburg" in the same N&W font.
• On February 12th, 2010, 475 was brought out of the shed to plow the nearly 10ft of snow left from two blizzards. That night, "475" was back in N&W appearance, and it was then renumbered to "382", and changed its smokestack and cowcatcher for a Lerro Productions photo charter which took place on Opening Day, February 13th, 2010. The next day it was back as "475" though the N&W appearance remains.

Appearances

This locomotive pulled the Rainbow Sun in the 2000 movie Thomas and the Magic Railroad^[1]

References

Notes

1. ^ Thomas and the Magic Railroad Filming Locations