#2509
Norfolk and Western classes Y6, Y6a and Y6b
🇺🇸 United States ·built by Roanoke Shops· from 1936· three related classes of American 2-8-8-2 Mallet locomotives
_2-8-8-2_Mallet_locomotive_class_Y6_No._2135_with_coal_train.jpg)
2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Norfolk & Western Railway (NW) 2-8-8-2 Mallet locomotive class Y6 No. 2135 with coal train: Unknown author Unknown author· CC0
- 2. TRAIN S USA NORFOLK AND WESTERN RAILWAY Y6a CLASS MALLET TYPE ARTICULATED STEAM 2-8-8-2 LOCO No 2156 - BUILT AT THE RAILWAY COMPANY'S SHOPS AT ROANOKE IN 1942 - PHOTO BY WES BARRIS: ausdew· Public domain
what is it?
The Norfolk and Western classes Y6, Y6a and Y6b were types of 2-8-8-2 Mallet steam locomotives. A total of 81 were built by the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) between 1936 and 1952.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 90 years ago, in 1936.
- 4.2 MW is about 49 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
- Weighs about as much as 44 African elephants (~6 t each).
steam locomotive: Burns coal, wood or oil to boil water; the steam drives pistons that turn the wheels.
spec sheet
- built
- 1936–1942
- status
- preserved
- number built
- 51
- kind
- Steam
- traction
- steam
- origin
- 🇺🇸 United States
- builders
- Roanoke Shops
- operators
- Norfolk and Western Railway
- top speed
- 80 km/h
- power
- 4.2 MW
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- wheel arrangement
- 2-8-8-2
- weight
- 264 t
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q131620379, Wikipedia: Norfolk and Western classes Y6, Y6a and Y6b (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.