Silly question

[darthraven]

I am going to ask what I am sure is a silly question but I can't seem to find the answer.

What do the numbers stand for IE: 2-10-4  I assume it has something to do with the cars but am unsure.

[JerryB]

Not a silly question at all.

This is the Whyte Classification system. It is used as a shorthand that describes the wheel arrangements of American steam locomotives.

Using the 2-10-4 example in your question, the locomotive would have a leading truck with a single axle with two wheels, five driving axles with a total of ten wheels, and a two axle trailing truck with four wheels.

For a complete explanation (with examples), see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whyte notation

Happy RRing,

Jerry

[darthraven]

Thank you this was very helpful.

[Doneldon]

Thank you this was very helpful.

No it wasn't! I thought 2-10-4 was my social security number,

[Jerrys HO]

D-

I never thought I would see the day train makers would stoop as low as they did stealing peoples identity, and all the way back to your year. That's almost grave robbing.

Jerry