2-10-2
|
|
PRR_N1s_8363s.jpg
A 2-10-2 steam locomotive in the Whyte notation for wheel arrangements has two leading wheels (one axle), ten driving wheels (five driven axles), and two trailing wheels (one axle). In the United States, the 2-10-2 is known as the Santa Fe type, after the railroad that first used the type.
The equivalent UIC classification is 1'E1'.
The 2-10-2 can be seen as an extension of the 2-8-2 "Mikado" type with a bit more tractive effort, sharing many of the advantages and disadvantages of the type. Like all ten-coupled designs, the long rigid wheelbase of the driving wheels presents a problem on curves, requiring blind drivers, lateral motion devices and much play on the outer axles. To limit this problem, the driving wheels were generally small (up to 64 in (1.63 m)), but such small wheels meant sufficient counterweight for the heavy side and main rods could not be provided.
2-10-2s were used in a number of countries around the world, including those in North America, Western Europe, China and others.
North America
In North America, the 2-10-2 was a type produced between approximately 1915-1920, after which its limitations became apparent and larger locomotives were built. Approximately 2,200 of the type were produced, including about 500 of the USRA WWI standard design.
China
2-10-2s are the mainstay of Chinese steam, this being the arrangement of the Chinese QJ class locomotives which were built into the 21st century and are still in widespread service.
Europe
Continental Europe saw a fair number of 2-10-2s, although the type was always less popular than 2-8-2s and 2-10-0s. The German railways built 28 3-cylinder 2-10-2 tender freight locomotives of class BR45 from 1936, which were the largest steam locomotives on the system. A large number of European 2-10-2s were tank locomotives, taking advantage of the symmetrical nature of the arrangement. Examples on the German railway systems included classes BR84 and BR85, both standard designs built in 1935 and 1937 respectively, and class BR95, built in 1922 by the Prussian State Railways.