Great Northern S-2

Great Northern S-2 class
GN 2578 with a train at Fargo, North Dakota in the summer of 1939.
Type and origin Power type Steam Designer William Kelly[1] Builder Baldwin Locomotive Works Serial number 61211–61216, 61224, 61225, 61237–61242 Model Baldwin 16-52-2⁄4-E, (#1 to #14) Build date February–March 1930 Total produced 14
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-8-4  • UIC 2′D2′ h2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Leading dia. 36 in (914 mm) Driver dia. 80 in (2,032 mm) Trailing dia. 46 in (1,168 mm) Tender wheels 33 in (838 mm) Wheelbase Loco & tender: 91.17 ft (27.79 m) Length 103 ft 3+1⁄8 in (31.47 m) Width 11 ft 0+3⁄4 in (3.37 m) Height 16 ft 0+7⁄8 in (4.90 m) Axle load 64,250 lb (29,140 kilograms; 29.14 metric tons) Adhesive weight 257,000 lb (117,000 kilograms; 117 metric tons) Loco weight 438,120 lb (198,730 kilograms; 198.73 metric tons) Tender weight Working: 326,560 lb (148,130 kilograms; 148.13 metric tons) Empty: 136,300 lb (61,800 kilograms; 61.8 metric tons) Total weight 764,680 lb (346,850 kilograms; 346.85 metric tons) Tender type Vanderbilt, Water-bottom Fuel type Fuel oil Fuel capacity 5,800 US gal (22,000 L; 4,800 imp gal) Water cap. 17,250 US gal (65,300 L; 14,360 imp gal) Firebox: ​  • Grate area 97.75 sq ft (9.081 m2) Boiler 94 in (2,400 mm) Boiler pressure 225 lbf/in2 (1.55 MPa) Heating surface: ​  • Firebox 401 sq ft (37.3 m2)  • Tubes 2.25 in (57 mm)  • Flues 3.5 in (89 mm)  • Total surface 4,781 sq ft (444.2 m2) Superheater: ​  • Type Type E  • Heating area 2,265 sq ft (210.4 m2) Cylinders Two Cylinder size 29 in × 29 in (737 mm × 737 mm) Valve gear Walschaert Valve type Piston valves
Performance figures Maximum speed At least 100 mph (160 km/h) Power output 3,300 hp (2,500 kW)[2] Tractive effort 58,305 lbf (259.35 kN) Factor of adh. 4.40
Career Operators Great Northern Class S-2 Numbers 2575–2588 Delivered March 11-April 10, 1930 Retired 1955-1958 Preserved One preserved (No. 2584), plus tender from No. 2575 preserved Disposition Great Northern 2584 on display in Havre, Montana, tender from No. 2575 used as auxiliary tender for SP&S 700, remainder scrapped

The Great Northern S-2 was a class of 14 4-8-4 "Northern" type steam locomotives built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1930 and operated by the Great Northern Railway until the late 1950s.

The locomotives were built to haul passengers on the GN mainline, pulling the Empire Builder and the Oriental Limited and were assigned to the Montana division for service between Williston, North Dakota and Havre, Montana and the Spokane division for service between Spokane, Washington and Wenatchee, Washington, then assigned to the Divide between Havre and Whitefish, Montana, of which mostly runs through the famed Marias Pass, though they were also used on GN tracks outside of their assigned areas.

Today, only one S-2 survives, No. 2584. It was retired in December 1957 and moved to the Havre depot in Havre, Montana in May 1964 where it still resides today.