Virginian Railway Class MB

The MBs were a fleet of 42 2-8-2 Mikado type steam locomotives that ran on the Virginian Railway from 1909 until 1956.
== History ==
In 1909, the recently built Virginian Railroad needed a new kind of freight locomotive. W.P. Sanderson, later joined by chief draftsmen George Halstead, along with a few advisors from the Baldwin Locomotive Works, drew up plans for a new 2-8-2 design. Halstead, who was the one responsible for devising a simple yet effective alphabetical locomotive and car classification system for the railroad, said: "Sanderson and I thought it was the best engine for its weight ever built". 
This was the most significant task Mr. Halstead took up for the Virginian. These locomotives were, what many believe to be, the first true examples of the 2-8-2 wheel arrangement. They had a deep firebox, supported by the trailing truck and a large, superheated boiler. The MBs were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works from May 1909 to September 1910 with 42 locomotives built. These locomotives had 56" inch driving wheels, 26" x 32" inch cylinders, 190 psi boilers, and had a tractive effort of 53,157 lbs. Their tenders could hold 14 tons of coal and 9,500 gallons of water. Each locomotive weighed in at 134.5 tons (218.5 tons with tenders of course). These locomotives were described as multipurpose, they were good for switching, hauling heavy coal drags, fast freights, and even passenger trains, as well as serving as pusher locomotives on steep grades. The top speed for these engines was around 45 - 60 mph.
The locomotives had healthy appetites. They drank more that it should upon occasion, which was obliged to work like blazes for their keep. The were also light enough for the weight restrictions for the wooden trestle at Harper, Virginia.
According to one Source from The Virginian Railway by H. Reid, these locomotives were described as "The Virginian's greatest locomotive". Another article from the book says "If the MB was to occupy the hero's role, it had to be a talented actor". And indeed it was, from the 12-degree curves, 2.07 percent grades and tunnels around Clarks Gap, on the to pine-forest flatlands of Virginia, the locomotives did their job handily. 
"The MB was the best thing that happened to the Virginian since Henry Huttleston Rogers. Without the MB Chapter, the Virginian story might have concluded long before it did." - H. Reid.
Later on, the class was fitted with superheating which increased their boiler pressure from 190 psi to 200 psi and their tractive effort increased to 55,954 lbf. Some of them even received modern looking cabs and they were eventually supplied with Berkley or Duplex stokers.
== Retirement ==
In 1938, the Virginian Railway began to retire the MBs in favor for modern equipment. Engines 425, 431, 433, 435, 436, 444, 445, and 449 were the first ones to leave the VGN roster (although engines 452 and 455 were sold off to the Algoma Central & Hudson Bay Railroad and 427, 438, 456 and 461 were sold to the Montour Railroad the previous year). In the Autumn of 1956, engine No. 432, the last member of the class in service, became the last steam locomotive to operate on the VGN's Roanoke, Virginia theater of operations. In February 1959, the last two locomotives, #432 and #459 which was placed in storage after retirement, were cut up for scrap. Sadly, none were preserved.
== Incidents ==
* 1920s: Engine No. 433 was heading the Glen Rogers mixed train out of Maden, West Virginia when it rounded a curve and a huge boulder, which had gotten loose due to the rainy weather, was rolling towards it! The train managed to stop in time and the boulder stopped rolling, a few feet from the engine's front coupler. They later managed to dynamite the boulder off the track the next day
* October 31, 1916 Roanoke, Virginia: Engine No. 428 was hauling Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show was heading out of Roanoke. The engine headed out of Roanoke, grabbling steadily and heading out of Shorters Spur at milepost 141. Then No. 428 lurched, jerking itself and several of the livestock cars loaded with the show's animals of the tracks. Many of the Horses were killed, breaking Buffalo Bill's heart. The cause of the wreck was due to a split switch, although many of the railroaders down the line were of the opinion that a combination of wooden cars and speed was to blame.
* July 1945 Norfolk, Virginia: Engineer B. Moore was driving engine No. 429 with a short freight train when its injector began leaking and water began to seep into the firebox. Nearby the train was a general store. Moore ran over to the General store and bought a 10- pound sack of cornmeal. He then opened the injector and told the fireman to pour the entire bag of cornmeal into the injector. After that, the train continued on its journey.
== Stock List ==
Image	Loco No.	Build date 	Manufacturer	Serial Number	Scrapped
 	420 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33395 	Scrapped in March, 1955
 	421 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33396 	Scrapped in May,1953
 	422 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33397 	Scrapped in June, 1953
 	423 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33398 	Scrapped in May, 1953
 	424 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33398 	Scrapped in July, 1947
 	425 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33414 	Scrapped in March, 1938
 	426 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33415 	Scrapped in April, 1953
 	427 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33429 	Sold to the Montour R. R. in May 1937 as #42. Scrapped June 1951.
 	428 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33429 	Scrapped in June, 1953
 	429 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33431 	Scrapped in March, 1955
 	430 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33432 	Scrapped in March, 1955
 	431 	May, 1909 	Baldwin 	33433 	Scrapped in March, 1938.
 	432 	January, 1910 	Baldwin 	34162 	Retired in 1956. Last MB in service. Scrapped in February, 1959.
 	433 	January 1910 	Baldwin 	34163 	Scrapped in March, 1938.
 	434 	January 1910 	Baldwin 	34164 	Scrapped in June, 1953.
 	435 	January, 1910 	Baldwin 	34213 	Scrapped in March, 1938.
 	436 	January, 1910 	Baldwin 	34214 	Scrapped in March, 1938
 	437 	January, 1910 	Baldwin 	34277 	Scrapped in June, 1953
 	438 	March, 1910 	Baldwin 	34426 	Sold to the Montour R.R. in 1937 as #43. Scrapped in December, 1952.
 	439 	August, 1910 	Baldwin 	35066 	Scrapped in July, 1947
 	440 	August, 1910 	Baldwin 	35067 	Scrapped in Aug, 1955
 	441 	August, 1910 	Baldwin 	35068 	Scrapped in July, 1947
 	442 	August, 1910 	Baldwin 	35114 	Out of service by July 5th, 1954. Scrapped in March 1955
 	443 	August, 1910 	Baldwin 	35115 	Scrapped in June, 1953
 	444 	August, 1910 	Baldwin 	35150 	Scrapped in March, 1938
 	445 	August, 1910 	Baldwin 	35151 	Scrapped in March, 1938
 	446 	September, 1910	Baldwin 	35214 	Scrapped in March, 1955
 	447 	September, 1910	Baldwin 	35215 	Scrapped in March, 1955
 	448 	September, 1910	Baldwin 	35216 	Scrapped in March, 1955
 	449 	September, 1910	Baldwin 	35285 	Scrapped in March, 1938
 	450 	July, 1910 	Baldwin 	34923 	Scrapped in March, 1952
 	451 	July, 1910 	Baldwin 	34924 	Scrapped in March, 1953
 	452 	July, 1910 	Baldwin 	34925 	Sold to the Algoma Central & Hudson Bay RR in 1937 (as #70). Scrapped in September, 1950
 	453 	July, 1910 	Baldwin 	34926 	Scrapped in March, 1955
 	454 	July, 1910 	Baldwin 	34983 	Scrapped in June, 1953
 	455 	July, 1910 	Baldwin 	34984 	Sold to the Algoma Central & Hudson Bay RR in 1937 (as #71). Scrapped in September, 1950
 	456 	July, 1910 	Baldwin 	34985 	Sold to the Montour Railroad in 1937 (as #44). Scrapped in June, 1948
 	457 	July, 1910 	Baldwin 	34986 	Scrapped in May, 1953
 	458 	August, 1910 	Baldwin 	35024 	Scrapped in August, 1953
 	459 	August, 1910 	Baldwin 	35025 	Out of service by 1956. Scrapped in February, 1959
 	460 	August, 1910 	Baldwin 	35026 	Scrapped in June, 1955
 	461 	August, 1910 	Baldwin 	35027 	Sold to the Montour Railroad in May 1937 (as their #45). Scrapped in November, 1946.
== Gallery ==
File:Virginian 460 roanoke july 1947.jpg|No. 460 at Roanoke with a freight train in July 1947
File:Virginian 430 in 1955.jpg|No. 430 thundering up a hill with a coal train in 1955. The mighty machine was built in 1909 by Baldwin and it did not survive the cutter's torch just like it's siblings in March 1955, shortly after this photo was taken.
File:Virginian 453.jpg|Virginian Railway #453, built by Baldwin in July 1910. It was later scrapped in March 1955.
File:Virginian 458.jpg|Virginian Railway No. 458. Built by Baldwin in August 1910 and scrapped in August 1953.
File:Virginian 433 with the glen rogers mixed.jpg|No. 433 with the Glen Rogers mixed train at Maden, West Virginia. The engine was built in January 1910 and was scrapped in March 1938.
File:Virginian 430 early.jpg|No. 430 in the early days of its career.
File:Virginian 429.jpg|No. 429, built by Baldwin in May 1909, with a short freight train near Norfolk, Virginia in July 1945. The engine was later scrapped in March 1955.
File:Virginian 443.jpg|No. 443 topping off its coal load. It was built by Baldwin in August 1910 and scrapped in June 1953.
File:Virginian 421.jpg|Virginian Railway No. 421 after being completed by Baldwin in May 1909. This is what the class looked like when they were new. No. 421 was later scrapped in May 1953.
File:Virginian 446.jpg|Virginian Railway No. 446. It was built by Baldwin in September 1910 and was scrapped in March 1955.
File:Vgn_430_norfolk_virginia_1954.jpg|#430 seen with a short local freight train in Norfolk, Virginia in December 1954. Photo by H. Reid.
Category:2-8-2 locomotives
Category:2-8-2 steam locomotives
Category:Baldwin locomotives
Category:American locomotives
Category:Built in 1909
Category:Built in 1910
Category:Virginian locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Freight locomotives
Category:Scrapped locomotives
Category:American steam locomotives