The Great Northern Railway M-1 was a class of 35 American 2-6-8-0 locomotives introduced in 1910. A total of 35 of these Mallet locomotives were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in two batches; the first 10 in December 1909, followed by a further 25 in June to August 1910.[1] They were early articulateds and worked their entire life on the Great Northern Railway (GN). These engines were unusual because of having two uneven sets of driving wheels; the front set having six driving wheels, and the rear set having eight driving wheels.

Great Northern Railway class M-1
GN 1951 at Skykomish, circa 1924
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 34024–34028, 34074–34076, 34104, 34105, 34824–34833, 34965, 34967, 34968, 34997–34999, 35046–35052, 35088, 35089 Model Baldwin 16-40/64 DE Build date December 1909 – August 1910 Total produced 35 Rebuilder GN shops Rebuild date 1926-1927 (Rebuilt To : M-2) 1930 (Rebuilt To 21 O-7 Mikado’s) 1932 (3 Rebuilt To : O-8 Mikado’s) Number rebuilt 35 (21 Rebuilt To O-7 Mikado’s) (3 Rebuilt to O-8 Mikado’s)
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-6-8-0  • UIC (1′C)D n4v Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 55 in (1.397 m) Adhesive weight 350,000 lb (160,000 kg) Loco weight 368,700 lb (167,200 kg) Boiler pressure 210 lbf/in2 (1.45 MPa) Cylinders Four, Mallet compound High-pressure cylinder 23 in × 32 in (584 mm × 813 mm) Low-pressure cylinder 35 in × 32 in (889 mm × 813 mm)
Performance figures Maximum speed 35-63 Mph Tractive effort 78,360 lbf (348.56 kN)
Career Operators Great Northern Railway Class M-1 Numbers 1950–1984 Retired 1929–1954 Disposition All scrapped after rebuilding to class M-2, O-7 & O-8

All M-1's were converted to be simple-expansion cylinders from 1926 to 1927 and reclassified M-2. Twenty-two of the M-2's were dismantled between 1929 and 1931, with parts being recycled into new class O-7 Mikados numbered 3376-3396 in 1930 . Three O7 Mikado’s were rebuilt to O8 Mikados numbered 3397-3399 in 1932 . The 13 M-2's not rebuilt lasted until the dieselisation era, and were sold for scrap between 1949 and 1954. No M-1's have survived into preservation. None of the O-8's that were rebuilt from the O-7's that were once part of the M-1's were preserved either.[2]

Images

• as M-1.
• as rebuilt to M-2.

References

• Keyes, Norman C., Jr.; Middleton, Kenneth R. (Autumn 1980). "The Great Northern Railway Company: All-Time Locomotive Roster 1861-1970". Railroad History. Boston, Massachusetts: The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society, Inc. (143). ISSN 0090-7847.