Class (locomotive) explained

A class of locomotives is a group of locomotives built to a common design, typically for a single railroad or railway. Classes can vary between country, manufacturer, and company.^[1] For example, the United States generally used the Whyte notation for steam locomotive classification,^[2] but the Baldwin Locomotive Works had their own classification system.^[3] A list of locomotive classification systems follows:

United States of America

• Whyte notation
• AAR wheel arrangement
• Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive classification
• List of Milwaukee Road locomotives
• List of Norfolk and Western Railway locomotives

Britain

• British Rail locomotive and multiple unit numbering and classification
• List of British Rail classes
• Locomotives of the Caledonian Railway
  • • Locomotives of the Great Northern Railway Locomotives of the Midland Railway GWR locomotive numbering and classification
• SR locomotive numbering and classification
• Southern Railway multiple unit numbering and classification
• LMS locomotive numbering and classification
• LNER locomotive numbering and classification
• Steam locomotives of British Railways

Ireland

• Steam locomotives of Ireland
• Diesel locomotives of Ireland
• Multiple units of Ireland

Germany

• List of Bavarian locomotives and railbuses
• German locomotive classification
• DRG locomotive classification
• DR locomotive classification
• DB locomotive classification
• UIC classification of locomotive axle arrangements

Finland

• List of Finnish locomotives

Indonesia

• List of locomotives in Indonesia

Russia

• List of Russian steam locomotive classes

China

• List of locomotives in China

Switzerland

• Swiss locomotive and railcar classification

South Africa

• South African locomotive numbering and classification
• List of South African locomotive classes

Japan

• Japan Railways locomotive numbering and classification

New Zealand

• Locomotives of New Zealand

Notes and References

1. Gaskell . G. H. . 1952 . The Origin of Locomotive Class Names . The Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Bulletin . 87 . 83–95 . 43517676 . 0033-8842.
2. Web site: Dean . Marcy . 2023-03-05 . Whyte Classification . 2024-03-20 . Southeastern Railway Museum . en-US.
3. Web site: Bell . Kurt . 2021-03-09 . Deciphering the Baldwin Locomotive Works classification system . 2024-03-20 . Trains . en-US.