New York Central Mikados

Mikados were built from the early 1900s to as late as the mid 1940s in Canada, although the vast majority came into service prior to 1930. The railroad owning the largest number of Mikados (1,350 system wide) was the New York Central (which was also the largest owner of 0-8-0 switchers, 4-8-2 "Mohawks" and 4-6-4 "Hudsons"). As of January 1, 1946, the system had 921 2-8-2s on its roster.

That 1946 roster of 2-8-2s was broken down as follows:

Class H5 (327 locomotives): This class, relatively small, with a main cylinder starting tractive effort of 48,570 lbs, was first built in 1912, converted from 2-8-0s of class G5. Others were built new.
In class order, although not chronological, were 143 class H6, USRA 282A "light" Mikados. This 1918/19 order was the largest single order for these locomotives for one system. In fact, the NYC was the largest beneficiary of the USRA in numbers of locomotives delivered.
In 1912/13, and a second order in 1920, class H7 was delivered, working pretty much on "Lines West" (of Buffalo). This was a fairly routine design, with a starting tractive effor of 56,000 lbs, increased to 58,000 lbs in the 1920 lot which had higher boiler pressure. In 1946, there were 113 of these locomotives in service.
Class H8 consisted of 40 locomotives with 57 inch drivers for use on the coal originating Pittsburgh & lake Erie (and Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogeny) leased subsidiary, built in 1916-1920.
Class H9 was another USRA type: 30 282B "Heavy" 2-8-2s. They could generate 60,000 lbs main cylinders starting tractive effort and were built for the P&LE/PMcK&Y in 1919-1920.
Finally, there were 302 class H10 Mikados, which some consider the precursor to the "Lima Super-Power" design. Essentially, this class was a modified and improved H7. The starting tractive effort was 63,470 lbs, and the construction dates 1922-24. They were built by both Lima and ALCO.

Many years ago in TRAINS, an unknown person surveyed all Mikados contemporary with the H10 and discovered a secret: Lima had given the H10 double the superheating surface of then other classes. A few years later, Andre Chapelon did pretty much the same thing in France, and has been hailed as a genius ever since. Outside of that, the Lima design was an upgrade of the existing H7 2-8-2, a design that might be called average, if not mediocre. As an interesting sidelight, the Lima designer, Will Woodard, had earlier drawn up plans for a "Super-Power" 2-8-4 based on the USRA light design.

There are no surviving NYC 2-8-2 "Mikado" type locomotives.

Locomotives of the New York Central Lines
Class	Hx	H-5													H-6	H-7				H-8		H-9				H-10
Subsidary \ Sub Class	Xa,b	5a-e	5f,k	5g	5h	5j	5l	5m,n	5p,q	5r	5s	5t	5u	5v	6a	7a	7b	7c,d	7e	8a,b,c	8d	9a	9b	9c	9d	10	10a	10b
Boston & Albany				12		14						6															8
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis ("Big Four")							114				25				25	50			50								50	25
Indiana Harbor Belt										15			20	5	24
Kanawha Michigan	5
Lake Erie & Western															15
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern																10	25
Michigan Central															20			35	10							1		15
New York Central		122	56		50		9	22	129			50			95												132	50
Pittsburgh & Lake Erie																				5	5		5		10		10	11
Pittsburgh McKeesport & Youghiogheny																				30		10		5
Toledo & Ohio															15
Totals:	5	122	56	12	50	14	123	22	129	15	25	56	20	5	194	60	25	35	10	35	5	10	5	5	10	1	200	101

Mikados on the New York Central Road
Class	Qty.	Road Numbers	Year Built	Builder	Notes
H-5a-e	122	3600-3721	1912	ALCO
H-5p, q	2	3722, 3723	1925	ALCO
H-5h	50	3725-3774	1913	ALCO
H-5f, k	56	3775-3830	1913-1914	ALCO
H-5m, n	22	3831-3852	1914	ALCO
H-5p	82	3853-3934	1915-1918	ALCO
H-5t	50	3935-3984	1916	Lima
H-5p	45	4071-4115	1915-1916	ALCO
H-5l	9	4116-4124	1913	ALCO
H-6a	50	5100-5149	1918	ALCO	11 to PM
H-6a	45	5150-5194	1918-1919	Lima	USRA
H-10a	65	1-65	1922-1923	Lima
H-10a	57	66-122	1922-1923	ALCO
H-10a	10	123-132	1922-1923	Lima
H-10b	50	320-369	1924	ALCO

Specifications
Class	H-5a-e	H-6a	H-10a	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:	216,100 lbs.	225,500 lbs.	245,500 lbs.	246,000 lbs.
Total Locomotive Weight:	274,000 lbs.	292,000 lbs.	334,000 lbs.	334,500 lbs.
Locomotive & Tender Weight:	424,500 lbs.	477,700 lbs.	519,700 lbs.	610,500 lbs.
Grate Area:	56.5 sq. ft.	66.7 sq. ft.	66.4 sq. ft.	66.4 sq. ft.
Cylinders:	(2) 25" x 32"	(2) 26" x 30"	(2) 28" x 30"	(2) 28" x 30"
Boiler Pressure:	180 psi	200 psi	210 psi	200 psi
Tractive Effort:	48,570 lbs.	54,700 lbs.	66,700 lbs.	63,500 lbs.
Tender Capacity:
Water:	7,500 gals.	10,000 gals.	10,000 gals.	15,000 gals.
Coal:	12 tons	16 tons	16 tons	18 tons

New York Central Mikados

Photos

Reference