USRA Light Mikado

The USRA Light Mikado was the standard light freight steam locomotive of the United States Railroad Administration, the wartime agency that ran the American railroads during World War I. It has a 2-8-2 wheel arrangement, called a Mikado after the Emperor of Japan, and was drawn to a light axle load so one design could serve both weak branch lines and busy main lines. The first one, for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, was finished in July 1918 as number 4500, and 614 were built under the agency with 641 more copies after it ended. Three builders shared the originals, the American Locomotive Company, Baldwin and the Lima Locomotive Works, and Lima delivered part of the New York Central order of 1918 and 1919. The class was well regarded, and many stayed in service until diesels replaced them. Nine originals and copies are preserved. It was also called the McAdoo Mikado after the head of the agency.