NM&W 0-8-0 #823

NM&W 0-8-0 #823

During the first World War, the United States government put the nation's railroads under the control of a government agency: the USRA (United States Railroad Administration). The lasting legacy of the USRA was a group of standard locomotive designs, which were used by railroads across the country. The locomotives were designed to use a minimum of materials to conserve vital materials for the war effort. To serve as many roles as possible, the USRA created a set of 12 standard steam loco designs.
The first to be delivered was Baltimore & Ohio 4500, a USRA light 2-8-2. This engine is currently on display at the B&O Railway Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. The USRA engines came very late: even 4500 served for only a few months before the war ended; many USRA engines were not delivered until after the war.

Up to World War I, 0-6-0 switchers had been sufficient for most switching chores. The 0-8-0 had begun gaining traction, yet 0-6-0s far outnumbered 0-8-0s as late as 1916. During the war, the USRA decided to design both 0-6-0s and 0-8-0s. 0-6-0s were allotted in higher numbers than the 0-8-0, mirroring the trend of the decade prior. Under government control, 175 of the 0-8-0 switchers were produced versus 255 0-6-0s. Increased train weight over the war and interwar period saw construction of 0-6-0s decline rapidly while 0-8-0 production increased. Thanks to the changing trends, the unassuming 0-8-0 switcher became the most copied USRA design, with 1,200 units produced as copies. The design also had significant longevity, with the Norfolk & Western (which did not receive originals) building copies into 1953.

As originally designed, the only significant complaint of the railroads was the lack of rearward vision due to using road engine tenders. These tenders were modified to improve visibility by the receiving railroads. In all other respects, the railroads were generally impressed with the 0-8-0.

USRA Heavy Switcher (0-8-0)
Builder: Lima
Drivers: 51 inch
Cylinders: 25 by 28 inch
Weight: 194,000 pounds
Tractive Effort: 51,200 pounds
Cost: $43,966 ($592,318 in 2013 dollars)

NM&W 0-8-0 #823
• config.txt 21.02KB
• readme.txt 2.93KB
sound
compressor.wav 180.19KB
dynamo.wav 41.75KB
hiss.wav 108.62KB
injector.wav 79.72KB
• steamscript.gs 8.11KB
usra080_art
thumbnail.jpg 9.91KB
usra080_art_icon.tga 32.04KB
usra080_body
080body.texture.txt 44 bytes
080body.tga 3.00MB
080body_bump.texture.txt 35 bytes
080body_bump.tga 4.00MB
080body_small.texture.txt 36 bytes
080body_small.tga 3.00MB
airhose.im 15.90KB
airhose.kin 3.14KB
bell.im 36.75KB
bell.kin 4.95KB
brakehiss.evt 23 bytes
brakes.kin 4.09KB
brakes.lm.txt 263 bytes
brakes_lod1.im 117.27KB
brakes_lod2.im 1.43KB
cab.texture.txt 26 bytes
cab.tga 768.04KB
crewsummer.im 53.91KB
crewsummer.kin 12.85KB
crewwinter.im 53.95KB
crewwinter.kin 12.87KB
ebtdriver.texture.txt 32 bytes
ebtdriver.tga 192.04KB
ebtdriver2.texture.txt 33 bytes
ebtdriver2.tga 192.04KB
env_metal.bmp 12.05KB
env_metal.texture.txt 32 bytes
glass.texture.txt 28 bytes
glass.tga 48.04KB
lod1.im 1.49MB
lod2.im 1.24MB
lod3.im 568.27KB
lod4.im 177.73KB
parts.texture.txt 28 bytes
parts.tga 3.00MB
parts_bump.texture.txt 33 bytes
parts_bump.tga 4.00MB
parts_small.tga 3.00MB
shadow1.texture.txt 49 bytes
shadow1.tga 64.04KB
summer.im 32.13KB
usra080_body.lm.txt 346 bytes
winter.im 40.50KB
usra080_shadow
shadow.bmp 822 bytes
shadow.texture.txt 29 bytes
usra080_shadow.im 72.17KB