..would it look like this? Ok, a bit silly perhaps,but ran across this interesting photo of a decked out M Class. Question is why? Where were they running to with this idea?

N&W rebuilt two 4-8-0s like the one in the photo. It was an experiment for more efficient switching operations. I believe they had automatic boiler controls, etc. The batch of C&O 0-8-0s doomed the experiment.

Jeez, that thing is kinda creepy! I heard of these two, but didn't think they looked like that!

Correct!

In 1947, the ever coal minded N&W took two of their heavy M2 class 4-8-0s (not the lighter M or M1 class) and modified them with induced draft fans, automatic boiler controls, increased coal capacity and other "tweaks" to produce a steam switcher that only needed one crewman and the availabilty of a diesel switcher. The results of the experiment were marginal, and the project scrapped when the N&W purchased 30 ex-C&O class C-16 0-8-0 switchers in 1950. With these nearly new steam switchers, plus another 15 copies built by N&W, the N&W had plenty of "new" switchers on the property until full dieselization in 1958-1960.

The "styling" of the loco was as much for looks (modernization?) as it was functional, but it did cover smokebox changes for the draft fan, etc. The enlarged coal bunker is self explanitory.

Would you be able to expand on what constituted "automatic boiler controls" and how they worked? Were they as efficient and effective as a well-trained fireman?

Can't say on these engines, but I wouldn't doubt that the system wasn't similar to what Baldwin experimented with in 1934 with their (2) 0-4-0T switchers that went to Standard Steel & Wire Co. Of which #10 (Build# 61820) is at the Connecticut Eastern RR Museum in Willimantic, Ct, #11 from what I have heard was last seen in French Lick Indiana, but I am not sure of if she is still there or her condition.

While the #10 is diesel oil fired and the N&W 1100 was coal fired the system should be similar. In the case of #10 the engineer has a control handle to set the operating conditions (Idle, Low, Medium, High usage). This control handle actuated a regulator that controlled the heat of the fire based on the steam pressure of the boiler (low steam-high fire, full pressure-idle fire). While the #10 had it's oil tank straddling the boiler in front of the cab it would have been gravity feed to the atomizer with a steam or air stream vaporizing (I believe it was air, but am unsure right now) the oil into the fire. Most likely the 1100 would have had a auger feeding a crusher or pulverizer and a steam or air stream to spread the coal over the grates (or if pulverized then it would have burnt like vaporized oil)

So all the engineer had to do was monitor the water level, set the burn rate and run the locomotive for the day. Not much more then a diesel engineer, but with minimal retraining.

Rich C.

The only info I have comes from the book by Prince. See attached.

IIRC, the fuel and water capacities were adequate for a 24 hour day.

Too bad they didn't take one of the C&O design 0-8-0's and try the experiment on one of them...

It's too bad the "streamlining" ended at the smokebox door!

Bullet noses don't do a whole lot of good at 15 mph. Interestingly enough, there is documentation that suggests that our M2, 1118, was the next on the list for conversion had the project been successful

True-- a streamlined nose would have been more for appearance than anything. I played around with it in Photoshop and I've concluded any appearance benefits would have been minimal at best. No matter how you slice, it it's not a J-class (nor does it need to be.)

Not only that, but you could seriously crunch a bullet nose coupling onto a boxcar....:)

Falling into the "What If" department, there was a drawing done by N&W's mechanical dept. after WWII for proposed streamlining on the remaining E2 Pacifics still in local & branch line passenger service. Imagine a "J" left in the dryer too long.........

Well!! In my humble research and "knowledge" of N&W history, I never knew that!?

Speaking of drawing board activity by the N&W, where is that Y7 prototype.....???.....hmmmm.

See page 131 of "N&W, Giant of Steam" (original edition) for mention of the proposed E2 streamlining. I am fairly certain that the drawing was also reproduced at some time in the N&WHS newsletter. I have definitely seen it somewhere. See pages 276 & 277 of the aforementioned book for proposed Y7 drawings. Getting back to the original subject of the experimental M2 switchers, go to pgs. 104, 105, and & 109.