I would like know what was the biggest steam locomotive ever built? What was its name? Thanks!?

Question

Where did it run?

Answer 1

Well, this is a debate that will likely carry on for generations, at least in terms of geared steam locomotive technology.  Most of the glory to the the largest ever built was the big American Locomotive Company (Alco) built, 4-8-8-4, Big Boy and technically it was, weighing in at well over 1 million pounds.  It was owned and built exclusively for the Union Pacific and operated on its western lines over mountainous grades.

However, the most powerful steamer was the 2-6-6-6 Allegheny Type, built by Lima Locomotive Works for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway (known as Class H-8 by the railroad) in the early 1940s (and they operated mostly in the southern West Virginia coal fields where grades were steep).  I think that the Big Boys could produce something around 6,000+ horsepower but the Alleghenies were rated in the 8,000 horsepower range, I believe still the most powerful locomotive ever produced to this day (steam or diesel).

The DM&IR (Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range) owned the Yellowstone design (4-8-8-4) built by Alco and were designated as M-3s and M-4s on the railroad.  While powerful, they ranked a bit below both the Big Boys and, especially, the Alleghenies.  Probably the most famous Yellowstone design was owned by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad known as its EM-1 class, which were used in heavy drag service (like hauling coal) in Maryland and West Virginia.

What is a bit disappointing about all of these types of large steamers is that they operated for a very short period of time, only a little over a decade before being retired (there was a good reason, though, as diesel was much cheaper to operate than steam and these large locomotives were very damaging to the railroad track structure).  All were built in the early 1940s and most were retired by the early-mid 1950s.

Answer 2

Often, discussions arise about which steam locomotive was the largest, or which steam locomotive was the most powerful. These questions are difficult to answer without some qualifications. For example, my response to the above question would be:

What do you mean? Longest? Heaviest? Most wheels? Most HP?

You see, this is a hard question to answer (as it is written). When comparing steam locomotives, you really need to be specific as to what you're looking for. For example, an easier question to answer would be: "What was the longest, non- articulated steam locomotive in the US?".

See the table on the site below:

Answer 3

They were called Big Boys.

Quote:

Big Boy: The world's largest steam locomotive, twenty-five Big Boys were built exclusively for Union Pacific, the first of which was delivered in 1941. The locomotives were 132 feet long and weighed 1.2 million pounds. Because of their great length, the frames of the Big Boys were "hinged," or articulated, to allow them to negotiate curves. They had a 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement, which meant they had four wheels on the leading set of "pilot" wheels which guided the engine, eight drivers, another set of eight drivers, and four wheels following which supported the rear of the locomotive. The massive engines normally operated between Ogden, Utah, and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Source of quote, and photo of the 4-8-8-4 locie:

http://www.uprr.com/aboutup/history/loco...

If you want to see one, the above page states:

Although there are no Big Boys left in operation today, eight of them eventually were donated for public display in various cities around the country. They can be found in Pomona, California; St. Louis, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Green Bay, Wisconsin; and Cheyenne, Wyoming.

[added] One more Big Boy link worth reading is:

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/bigboy/

Answer 4

Actually, the Big Boy was the biggest in press releases.  But, the truth is, it's 4:15 am, and I'll edit tomorrow.

Good question.  One can win bets with the answer.

Hint:  DM&IR...