Norfolk and Western Classes E2 and E2a

The Norfolk and Western Classes E2 and E2a was a class of sixteen 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotives that were built by ALCO's Richmond Works for the Norfolk and Western Railway in 1910.
==History==
===Construction and delivery===
A total of sixteen examples of the Norfolk and Western Class E2 were ever constructed by ALCO's Richmond Works in 1910, and all sixteen of them were delivered to the Norfolk and Western Railway in that same year, These locomotives were designed for moving passenger trains across the Norfolk and Western Railway's system.
===Rebuilds===
All sixteen examples of the Norfolk and Western Class E2 were rebuilt/converted into the Class E2a for an unknown reason.
===Assignment===
These locomotives were designed for moving the railway's high-priority passenger trains across the Norfolk and Western Railway's system, but when the K class 4-8-2 "Mountain" types and J class 4-8-4 "Northerns" were built and assigned to pull the high-priority trains, they were reassigned to hauling short-distance passenger trains on the Norfolk and Western Railway's system.
===Withdrawal===
Withdrawal of the Class E2/E2a had occurred between 1942 and 1958 and fifteen out of the sixteen examples were scrapped with one example No. 578 being left behind.
===Sole Survivor===
No. 578 was constructed in March 1910, and was retired from revenue service in December 1958 and was donated to the Central Ohio Railfan Association of Worthington, Ohio in 1959.
Upon arrival in Worthington, Ohio, No. 578 was still in operational condition, and so, beginning in 1960, the association had decided to use the 578 to pull their own short-distance tourist trains for five times a year.
This had lasted until 1966, when the locomotive's flue-time had expired. Volunteers had subsequently spent the next four years repairing No. 578's boiler in order for No. 578 to return to excursion service. Restoration work was completed in 1970, and the locomotive pulled a few more tourist trains on the now slightly extended line for the Association, which recently changed their name to the Ohio Railway Museum (ORM).
Shortly afterward, it was suddenly discovered that No. 578 had a broken spring hanger, which was deemed too expensive to repair and/or replace. A decision was sadly made to retire No. 578 from excursion service and keep her as a permanent static display exhibit.
As of today, No. 578 remains on static display on ORM's property.
==Stock list==
===E2===
Image 	Loco No.	Build date	Manufacturer 	Retirement date	Status 	Notes
Frameless	564 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	565 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	566 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	567 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	568 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	569 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	570 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	571 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	572 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	573 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	574 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	575 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	576 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
Frameless	577 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
 	578 	March 1910	ALCO's Richmond Works	December 1958 (revenue service)
1970 (excursion service)	On static display at the Ohio Railway Museum	Used in excursion service until 1970 when it was retired and put on static display at the Ohio Railway Museum
Frameless	579 	1910 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped 	
===E2a===
Image 	Loco No.	Build date	Manufacturer 	Retirement date	Status 	Notes
Frameless	553 	1912 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped	
Frameless	554 	1912 	ALCO's Richmond Works	- 	Scrapped	
 	555 	1912 	ALCO's Richmond Works	 	Scrapped	
Category:4-6-2 steam locomotives
Category:4-6-2 locomotives
Category:Sole survivor
Category:Norfolk and Western locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Rebuilds
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:4 foot 8 1⁄2 inch gauge
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:American steam locomotives
Category:Built in 1910
Category:Locomotives
Category:ALCO-Richmond Locomotives
Category:American locomotives
Category:ALCO-Richmond Works
Category:ALCO locomotives