2-8-0 TYPE

CONSOLIDATION TYPE 2-8-0

CLASS W, W-1 and W-2

The Maine Central owned 28 2-8-0's, all built by ALCO at Schenectady. There were three subclasses but all were similar. The W group of nine was built in 1910 without superheaters. The W-1 group of seven built in 1912 and eight built in 1913 came with superheaters but operated with less boiler pressure than the W-1's although their power was about the same because the cylinder bore of 23 inches was an inch larger. The W-2 group of four built in 1914 were virtually duplicates of the W-1 group. Sixteen survived into the 1950's and two, Numbers 501 and 519, have been preserved.

503 built in 1910 without a superheater.

510 built in 1912 with a superheater and top water feed.

COMPARISON OF SPECIFICATIONS OF 503 and 510

502 Built 1910 Scrapped 1946. Photographed at Rigby (Portland) in 1946.

The 1910 group can be distinguished by inside steam admission - note the square chest over the piston valve.

509 Built 1910 Scrapped 1953.

509 at Waterville April 23, 1946.

511 Built 1912 Scrapped 1940.

Photographed at Thompsons Point engine yard, Portland, May 31, 1923.

515 Built 1912 Scrapped 1952. At Livermore Falls in 1936.

515 with "speed" lettering.

516 Built 1912 Scrapped 1953. At Rigby April 25, 1946.

519 Built 1913 PRESERVED. Photo by Vic Rawstron at Rigby.

519 has been preserved.

521 Built 1913 Scrapped 1953. Brunswick, August 1940.

522 Built 1913 Scrapped 1952.

522 at Rigby April 24, 1946

526 Built 1914 Scrapped 1954.

PHOTO BY JOHN KRAUSE

526 was scrapped in April 1954, the last W except for the two preserved.

528 Built 1914 Scrapped 1951.

Last in the 501-528 series, the Maine Central's only 2-8-0's.