Michigan Central Mikados

The American Locomotive Company delivered 70 “Mikados” to the NYC during 1912 and 1913. Thirty-five of them went to the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern and Thirty-five went to the Michigan Central. The Michigan Central locomotives were designated as Class H-7 and were assigned road numbers 7900-7934. They had 63” drivers, 27” x 30” cylinders, a 190 psi boiler pressure and they exerted 56,100 pounds of tractive effort.

In 1918, the USRA allocated 194 “Mikado-Light” locomotives to the NYC. The MC received 20 of them. They were designated as Class H-6a and were given road numbers 7970-7989.

ALCO delivered 60 more 2-8-2s to the NYC in 1920. Ten of these locomotives went to the MC and were similar to the previous Class H-7 except they had a 200 psi boiler pressure and exerted 59,000 pounds of tractive effort. They were designated as Class H-7e and were given road numbers 7960-7969.

In 1922, the Lima Locomotive Works delivered an experimental 2-8-2 locomotive, which was a heavier Class H-7e that could deliver 4470 pounds more tractive effort and was also equipped with a booster, which added another 11,000 pounds of tractive force. This locomotive was designated as Class H-10 and was given road number 8000.

Satisfied with the H-10 the NYC ordered 200 more of them. Fifteen of these Class H-10s were delivered to the MC during 1923 and 1924. They were designated as Class H-10b and were assigned road numbers 237-251.

There are no surviving Michigan Central 2-8-2 “Mikado” type locomotives.

MC 2-8-2 Roster
Class	Qty.	Road Numbers	Year Built	Builder	Note
H-6a	20	7970-7989	1918	ALCO	1
H-7c, d	35	7900-7934	1913	ALCO
H-7e	10	7960-7969	1920	ALCO
H-10	1	8000	1922	Lima	2
H-10b	15	237-251	1923-1924	Lima

Notes

Specifications
Class	H-6a	H-7e	H-10	H-10b
Wheel Arrangement:	2-8-2	2-8-2	2-8-2	2-8-2
Length:			88-4 5/8”	88-8 5/8”
Drivers:	63” dia.	63” dia.	63” dia.	63” dia.
Weight on Drivers:	225,500 lbs.	250,900 lbs.	245,500 lbs.	246,000 lbs.
Total Locomotive Weight:	292,000 lbs.	328,000 lbs.	334,000 lbs.	334,500 lbs.
Locomotive & Tender Weight:	477,700 lbs.	513,700 lbs.	529,700 lbs.	610,500 lbs.
Grate Area:	66.7 sq. ft.	60.0 sq. ft.	66.4 sq. ft.	66.4 sq. ft.
Cylinders:	(2) 26” x 30”	(2) 27” x 30”	(2) 28” x 30”	(2) 28” x 30”
Boiler Pressure:	200 psi	200 psi	200 psi	200 psi
Tractive Effort:	54,700 lbs.	59,000 lbs.	63,500 lbs	63,500 lbs.
Tender Capacity:
Water:	10,000 gals.	10,000 gals.	10,000 gals.	15,000 gals.
Coal:	16 tons	16 tons	16 tons	18 tons

Michigan Central Mikados

Notes

Photos

References