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Great Northern 2-6-6-2

By the turn of the 20th century, the Great Northern had one of the busiest routes across the continental divide and had turned into a major US freight hauler. While they had a Rocky Mountain crossing with moderate grades (under 2%), the real bottle neck was the Cascade range in Western Washington. As freight traffic increased, the 2.5% grades pressed the capabilities of the GN's Consolidations and Mikados.

In 1906, the GN purchased five Baldwin 2-6-6-2 Mallets for use in pusher service between Leavenworth and the Cascade Tunnel. After renumbering these engines from 1900 through 1904, Baldwin produced an additional 20 for helper service in 1908 numbering the additions 1905 through 1924. This is the Baldwin builders card and in service photos of these five engines.

	These engines has 55 inch drivers. Originally numbered 1800 through 1804, they were renumbered to 1900 through 1904 in 1908. Click photo for a larger image.
	Here is an in service photo of 1903 after renumbering from 1803. Note the sand lines had been removed and a sand box canister was placed on the front pilot. Click photo for a larger image.
	This shot of 1909 shows the final solution to the sand delivery problem on this engine series, a pair of pilot deck canisters. Click photo for a larger image.
	This is a photo of GN 1810, later 1910 Click photo for a larger image.

These are top and side elevation drawings of the above Mallets.

	Top and side elevation drawings of the GN Mallets produced in 1906. Click drawing for a larger image.
	Cross section drawings of the GN Mallets produced in 1906. Click drawing for a larger image.

The original five engines were so successful that in 1907, the GN purchased 25 smaller Mallets, numbered 1805-1829 for use in road work between Leavenworth and Spokane, a distance of 197 miles. This fleet was bolstered with a purchase of an additional 20 identical engines in 1908, numbered 1800 through 1804 and 1830-1844. These engines were used in building 2-8-2's during 1923 through 1925. Here is the builders photo and card for these engines.

This is a builders photo and specification for numbers 1805-1829.

Great Northern 2-6-6-2

(c) 2007 Iron Horse 1:29