2-10-4 with DCC

Santa Fe  No. 5018

Awesome!

Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, a 2-10-4 locomotive has two leading wheels, ten driving wheels (in other words, five driven axles), and four trailing wheels.

These were referred to as the "Texas" type in most of the United States, the "Colorado" type on the Burlington Route and the "Selkirk" type in Canada.

The Santa Fe, who had originated the 2-10-4 type, tried again in 1930 with #5000, nicknamed "Madam Queen".

This locomotive was very similar to the C&O T-1 described above, with the same 69 in (1.8 m) drivers.

It proved the viability of the type on the Santa Fe, but the Great Depression shelved plans to acquire more.

In 1938, with the railroad's fortunes improving, the Santa Fe did acquire ten locomotives; these were ordered with 74 in (1.9 m) drivers and 310 psi (2.1 MPa) boiler pressure, making the Santa Fe 2-10-4s the fastest and most modern of all.

Of the original order of ten, five were oil-burning and five coal-burning; when the Santa Fe ordered 25 more for 1944 delivery, all were delivered equipped to burn oil.

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