Beyer Garratts in America

nathanmallard

Well-known member
Hi,
I was playing around with the Northbay route the other day, more specifically, the NG11 Garratt that came with it. Now, that is most definitely a model of a South African prototype, which leaves me to wonder how many Garratts actually operated in the USA? I can't think of any standard gauge ones and I know my US railroads pretty well.
 
Hi,
I was playing around with the Northbay route the other day, more specifically, the NG11 Garratt that came with it. Now, that is most definitely a model of a South African prototype, which leaves me to wonder how many Garratts actually operated in the USA? I can't think of any standard gauge ones and I know my US railroads pretty well.

From what I've read none at all except recently in museums.
 
From what I understand there just was never a need for Garratt's in the US. The mallet configuration worked just fine and had less swivel points that could cause problems, while still allowing large amounts of tractive effort without crushing the track. also with the (generally) large loading gauge boiler and firebox size was never much of a problem, unless you where doing something "interesting" like the triplex's.
 
There is actually an operational Garratt here in the Lone Star State. A 2-6-2+2-6-2 was shipped to Hempstead where it currently operates on the Hempstead and Northern Railroad. Not a lot of pictures or videos exist since it is a private railroad, but I managed to find one...

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