- 4-8-6
Under the
Whyte notation for the classification ofsteam locomotives , a 4-8-6locomotive would have had fourleading wheel s, eight coupleddriving wheel s and sixtrailing wheel s.Other equivalent classifications are:
UIC classification : 2D3 (also known asGerman classification andItalian classification )French classification : 243Turkish classification : 49Swiss classification : 4/9This wheel arrangement was proposed by
Lima Locomotive Works in1949 as a continuation of their "Super Power" concept, essentially an expansion of the4-8-4 . A larger firebox similar to the ones on the2-6-6-6 locomotives built by Lima would have been fitted, allowing for greater power at speed. Despite promotion by Lima, no examples of this type were ever built and no nickname was ever assigned to the arrangement. In 1949, few railroads were interested in new steam locomotives due to steady improvements indiesel-electric locomotives.Despite there being no actual full size examples built, there have been some 4-8-6s built for
model railroad s.Reference:
*Bill Withuhn, "Did we scrap steam too soon?", in "Trains", Vol. 34, No. 8, June 1974, pp.36-47.
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