80 of the Y3 and 3a
classes were built by the Norfolk and Western Railroad from 1919
and lasted 40 years in service. Beginning 1943, 19 of these engines
were surplus and sold to other roads. I will describe the various
build information later.written by Kim Thurlow
Norfolk and Western modeller and historian.
I apologise in advance for the presumption of writing about the N&W, as I have only seen the Lifelike model here in Australia early 2001. I have however, always taken a keen interest in this (and other) steam engine design. Major Lewis Ingles Jeffries first awoke my interest in the N&W engines with his 1980 publication "N&W: Giant of Steam". So the information contained here is given in good faith. I believe it to be substantially correct.
80 of the Y3 and 3a
classes were built by the Norfolk and Western Railroad from 1919
and lasted 40 years in service. Beginning 1943, 19 of these engines
were surplus and sold to other roads. I will describe the various
build information later.
The model was originally released in early 2000, in both N&W
and ATSF paint schemes which are correct.
As of January 2001, the model is being released in Virginian, N&W, and Union Pacific colors.
I will describe features for all users, which include N&W, ATSF RR, Pennsylvania RR, Union Pacific RR, and Virginian.
The N&W Y3 was basically a USRA standard design. Other roads also purchased these USRA locomotives with the same boiler diameter from Alco. These were the Clinchfield (Class L2), D&RGW (Class L-107) and the Northern Pacific (Class Z4) of which more later.
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* American Locomotive Co, (ALCO) Schenectady works. #2000 (PRR 373) was one Y3 modernised with the large bridge steam exhaust pipe between the front cylinders, as in the photo of 2011 above.
The following Norfolk and Western road numbers became UP property, and were first allocated to Butte, Montana. Later, they were used to handle coal trains out of Rock Springs, Wyoming. All were scrapped in 1948.
One of the engines (3673, ex 2041) sold to the UP, had the bridge steam piping between the front cylinders as in the photo of 2011 above. It is also possible that number 2030 (UP 3670) was one Y3 modernised with the large bridge steam pipe between the front cylinders.
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