Chicago and North Western J class


The Chicago and North Western Railway class J was a class of 310 American 2-8-2 locomotives. They were built between 1913 and 1923 by the American Locomotive Company. In addition, the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway acquired 32, and also classified them as class J.

Design

The locomotives had boiler pressed to feeding steam to two cylinders that had a bore and a stroke. These were connected to driving wheels. The locomotives weighed.
The first 224 locomotives, built 1913 to 1919 had Baker valve gear, the last 118, built 1921 to 1923 had Young valve gear.

Construction

The locomotives were built by the American Locomotive Company at their Schenectady, Richmond, and Dunkirk, plants.
YearQuantityManufacturerSerial numbersC&NW numbersNotes
191310Schenectady52697–52706390–399Omaha Road
191315Schenectady53094–531082301–2315
191420Schenectady54429–544482316–2335
19146Schenectady54520–54525400–405Omaha Road
191425Schenectady54862–548862336–2360
191612Schenectady55606–556172361–2372
19166Schenectady55562–55567406–411Omaha Road
191625Schenectady56259–562832373–2379
191610Schenectady56284–56293412–421Omaha Road
191725Schenectady57292–573162398–2422
191820Richmond58144–581632423–2442
191842Richmond58377–584182443–2484
19198Richmond58419–584262485–2492
192130Richmond62664–626932493–2522
192110Richmond62785–627942523–2532
192220Dunkirk63507–635262533–2552
192340Dunkirk63843–638822553–2592
19238Dunkirk64445–644522593–2600
192310Dunkirk64453–644622701–2710

Service

They were used system-wide on freight trains, and became the principle freight-hauling locomotive on the railway.
The last seven locomotives built were equipped for oil firing from new; at least 18 more were retro-fitted in the 1930s and 1940s. These locomotives were used in Nebraska and Wyoming.
When new, the locomotives were hand-fired; in the mid to late 1930s many were rebuilt: driver diameter was increased by, boiler pressure was increased to to compensate, and a BK stoker was fitted. These locomotives were reclassified as J-A. With the onset of World War II, rebuildings ceased, but the fitting of stokers continued; these stoker-fitted locomotives were re-classed as J-S.
Also during the war, several locomotives were leased to the Seaboard Air Line Railroad.
In 1944 the Chicago and North Western Railway traded two of its class J locomotives for the Omaha Road's two J-1 2-10-2 locomotives.
Retirements started in 1942, and continued until the end of steam in 1956.
YearQuantity in
service at
start of year		Quantity
scrapped		NumbersNotes
1942310122303/12/14/19/26/35/58/66/77, 2401/05/70
194329822302, 25642302 wrecked on Seaboard Air Line
19442962363, 2372to Omaha Road 440, 441
194629422325, 2436
1947292252328/31/33/39/41/53/62/74/78/82/85/96,
2410/13/18/33/39–41/44/69/83/84/86/88

YearQuantity in
service at
start of year		Quantity
scrapped		NumbersNotes
1950344395, 397, 403, 405All class J
1951301415class J-A
1952299390–394, 401, 410, 412, 441410, 412, 441 class J-A; remainder class J
1953202409, 420All class J-A
1954182396, 402All class J-A
1955162399, 400All class J-A
19561414398, 404, 406–408, 411, 413, 414, 416–419, 421, 440All class J-A

No locomotives of this class have been preserved.