up right along with it. The principle of
compounding — using steam twice before
exhausting it into the atmosphere with its
savings in fuel and water — appealed to
railroad managers. Compound 2-8-0s, using
the cross-compounding feature where a
small high-pressure cylinder on one side ex-
hausted into a large, low-pressure one on the
other side, began to appear. Baldwin pro-
moted a system invented by Samuel Vau-
clain that used a high- and low-pressure cyl-
inder on each side. Both these experimental
systems were short-lived; locomotives built
as compounds were converted into simple,
single-expansion locomotives.
HEAVIER AND BIGGER
The 2-8-0 became heavier and soon saw
driving wheels of up to 57 inches. Several
railroads, including, surprisingly, Union Pa-
cific, obtained wide-firebox Consolidations
with center-cabs — Camelbacks. Boiler con-
struction became refined so that pressures of
200 psi were now practical. Cylinders
Virginia & Truckee 2-8-0 No. 29 puts on a
show near Virginia City, Nev., in March 2010.
This locomotive was built in October 1916.
Three photos, TRAINS: Jim Wrinn