M 2-8-0

CLASS M-1-a 2-8-0 TYPE

This group consisted of seven locomotives built by Baldwin in 1890 originally numbered 101-107 and renumbered 390-395 in 1900. All were scrapped in 1927 and 1928.

M-1-a 392 at St. Albans in 1914

M-1-a 394 at St. Albans in 1916

M-1-a 391 at Palmer not long before scrapping in 1928.

CLASS M-2-a 2-8-0 TYPE

This group consisted of nineteen engines built by the Schenectady works of the American Locomotive Company in 1905-1906 numbered 400 to 418. In 1928, fourteen of the locomotives were sold to the Canadian National leaving the CV with numbers 400 to 404. Of the remaining five, one was scrapped in 1944, one in 1952 and three in 1954. The engines were built with cross compound cylinders but over the period 1914-1919 they were superheated and received simple cylinders with piston valves. Subsequently numbers 400-404 received Southern valve gear and Elesco feedwater heaters.

M-2-a 408 has been superheated and received simple cylinders with piston valves but retains inside valve gear.

Photographed at St. Albans in 1914. Sold to the Canadian National in 1928.

400 at New London in 1936

400 at Lebanon, CT in 1936

M-2-a 400

403 at St. Albans in 1937

403 at Richford, VT by Charles E. Fisher

404 at Willimantic in 1937

404 at New London in 1938

404 at Montpelier in 1949

CLASS M-3-a 2-8-0 TYPE

This group consisted of six locomotives built by the Schenectady works of the American Locomotive Company in 1916. Originally numbered 420-425 they became 450-455 in 1923. They were similar to the M-2-a class but the cylinder diameter was 1 1/2 inches larger giving them a 50% rating rather than 44%. One was scrapped in 1955, one in 1956 and four lasted until 1960. Most railroads were purchasing 2-8-2's at the time they were built and the parent, the Grand Trunk, already had 100 2-8-2's in operation. The Grand Trunk became insolvent the year they were purchased due to the higher operating costs during the war and the debt from the Pacific extension called the Grand Trunk Pacific.

450 was the only M-3-a with an Elesco feedwater heater; sisters had Coffin feedwater heaters.

The photograph of M-3-a 450 and M-2-a 402 on the right shows the similarity and differences between the two classes. 450 has Walschaert valve gear while 402 has Southern valve gear. 402's cylinders slope inward because the class once had inside valve gear.

450 photographed at Yantic, CT. on August 2, 1956 by L. Gordon Eaton.

452 has a Coffin feedwater heater as did all M-3-a's except 450. M-3-a tenders were modified to improve vision to the rear. Photographed at Palmer in 1954.