NT&V Transcontiners/Berkshires
Hello! Heres a big pack for the whole community… The N.T.&V Berks are here! These engines are some of the best engines on the N.T.&V, and the best on this workshop! This pack is crazy! from revenue service, to Excursion Stars! from the verge of scrapping, to survival and revival! This pack has it all! Sit back, Relax, and enjoy.
===HISTORY===
A "Berkshire" type steam locomotive refers to a steam locomotive built with a 2-8-4 wheel configuration. The design was initially intended to improve on the USRA Mikado design (2-8-2), which was deemed to lack sufficient speed and horsepower. That was overcome by the inclusion of a larger, 100-square-foot (9.3 m2) firebox, requiring an extra trailing axle, giving the locomotive its distinctive 2-8-4 wheel arrangement. The name of "Berkshire" was chosen for the 2-8-4 type based on the Lima Locomotive Works testing on the Berkshire Hills of the Boston & Albany Railroad. After the Class A-1 successfully outperformed a Class H-10 Mikado, the Boston & Albany Railroad became the first to order the new Berkshires. Over 600 were built by the Lima Locomotive Works, the American Locomotive Company, and Baldwin Locomotive Works. A total of nineteen different railroads purchased Berkshires, including the Erie Railroad, who owned 105 Berkshires, more than any other railroad; the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, who nicknamed theirs the Kanawhas; and the Louisville & Nashville Railroad’s, whose locomotives were technically designated as Class M-1 but were referred to as "Big Emmas".
===N.T.&V HISTORY===
In 1941, The N.T.&V had found that the 2-8-4 wheel arrangement had been working out well with some railroads, as the railroad was losing money, they found the need to buy these engines and make the most out of what they we’re designed to do. in 1942, The railroad had bought 123 of these Berkshires, an extra 50 being added on in 1945. The class was renamed to the Transcontiners due to them running mainly on the Transcontinental Route of their track, The first engine had rolled out of the shops in 1943.
Classified as a LILY-1, Number 6500 was the first one to roll out, and was imminently tested the following day. The berkshire had been working well with fast freight service! Most other Berkshires we’re at around 80 thousand pounds of Tractive effort, the N.T&V’s had been upgraded to 120 thousand! The most amount of tractive effort from one single locomotive on a rigid frame! 23 of the LILY-1’s would come out of Lima’s shops.
In 1944, The LILY-2’s had come out of the shops, slightly different design, as meant for slower and heavier freight trains. These engines did their work as well! Numbers 6522-6542 we’re the entire class of LILY-2’s, only 20 built this time, These engines, arrived into service in Late 1944, making great progress with the railroad, and helping it out by a large amount.
In 1945, the LILY-3’s had rolled out, with a very different design, as being for Passenger service, these engines had their numberboards on the Cabs, not on the front numberboards, which was a VERY RARE sight to see, as only 4 other locomotives had this, but this class had no front numberboards, so the Cab was the best shot, These engines we’re able to reach speeds of 120 MPH and we’re placed into service in Mid 1945, hauling the Passenger trains with ease. These engines we’re numbered from 6543-6570.
1946 had ran around, and the last of the LILY Class had rolled out, the LILY-4 was a Multi-use locomotive, meant for passenger and freight service. These engines had a Singular large numberboard on the front of the smokebox, being incredibly simalier to a C&O Kanawah. The engines we’re placed into service in 1947 and worked tirelessly, being the awesome engines they we’re. These engines being numbered 6571-6623. As being the most of all 4 classes to be built.
in 1953, Diesels quickly started to take over the lines, and all the Transcontiners we’re being replaced by Diesels. The first Transcontiner had been retired, and soon came all 153 of them… But 13 of these engines remain, and 3 of them in operable Condition. These engines are diversed into all 4 classes, 2 LILY-1’s, 4 LILY-2’s, 1 LILY-3, and 11 LILY-4’s. 3 of these still run, being Numbers 6542, a LILY-2 class at the IRM Museum, being restored in the 1970s.
And 6567, a LILY-3 Locomotive being run by the now known as C.V.&V (Cumberland Valley & Vermont) As on their steam program, the only LILY-3 in preservation, being ran by the same railroad who abandoned her, she’s safe now though.
And lastly, 6576, a LILY-4 locomotive, being the only one operable, is being run by the C.V&V as well, alongside her sister class, and the only one left. All these engines are living happy careers, and these engines will be forever known as some of the best locomotives to exist on the N.T.&V.
===CREDITS===
HUGE THANKS TO CYGNUSOX FOR THE BERKISHIRE TRAINMOD! THESE ARE AMAZING AND KEEP UP THE WORK MY MAN!
As always, This is the Huber show, and I fie you all a FOOOND Farewell.
