Baltimore & Ohio Class EM-1

The Baltimore & Ohio EM-1 was a class of 30 Baldwin-built 2-8-8-4 "Yellowstone" type articulated locomotives that the B&O used well into the end of the steam era. Two more of the same type were built, intended for use on the Bingham and Garfield, a Utah copper mine road, but for some reason were never delivered. Their numbers were 7600 to 7629, and were renumbered in 1956 as 650 to 679. The last of them had their fires dropped on April 19th, 1960, marking the end of steam on America's first railroad.
The Second World War broke out in 1941, and diesel locomotive production had been curtailed. At this time, the B&O wanted more diesels, but in a surprising turn of events they had no choice but to but more steam locomotives. The result was a class of 30 powerful "Yellowstone" type locomotives, classed EM-1, a development of the EL-1 2-8-8-0 Mallets. Unlike all other B&O steam power, which had been fitted with the road's own 3 and 6 chime whistles, the EM-1's were delivered with Nathan single-chime hooter whistles.
The EM-1's were considered to be amongst the handsomest, most powerful and reliable articulated locomotives in the USA, and perhaps amongst the best steamers the B&O ever had. They were also the smallest "Yellowstones" ever built.
== Preservation ==
Despite its historical and technical significance, none were saved for posterity. However, there were two EM-1's that were earmarked for preservation, but unfortunately slipped the net:
The class pioneer, number 7600 was earmarked for preservation by the B&O Railroad Museum, but just as it was about to be moved to the museum from Benwood Junction, WV, a short-sighted yardmaster (misunderstanding the official reason for its transit) ordered it taken to Dietz's scrap yard and broken up. The people who saved it worked very hard on preparing the locomotive for display, and as such it was a wasted opportunity. By the time the B&O's management had found out about 650's transit to the museum, it was too late as it had been broken up, and the yardmaster was fired for his shortsightedness.
Number 7609 was offered to the city of Wheeling, West Virginia (the class's stamping ground) for public display, but the city said "no"; it was cut up soon afterwards.
== Gallery ==
* Gallery
Category:Baltimore and Ohio locomotives
Category:2-8-8-4 steam locomotives
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Category:Simple Articulated locomotives
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