A Chicago and North
Western 4-4-2 Atlantic simmers in the crisp wintry air as it pauses
at a rural Midwestern depot. In 1900, the Schenectady Locomotive
Works built six of these 4-4-2 Class D Atlantics for the C&NW.
The new locomotives created a sensation in the railroad world for
their abilty to provide high-speed service to premium passenger
trains on the C&NW’s portion of the Overland Route. These
locomotives were so successful, the C&NW eventually purchased
a total of 91 of them. The Atlantics were noted for their 81-inch
drivers, which attained considerably higher speeds than conventional
locomotives of that era. During the next forty years, these locomotives
provided reliable mainline service until their final days, when
they were bumped to less glamorous duty on branch line and Chicago
suburban service. |