Little History:


The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Yellowstones were built in two classes by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, PA: eight M3 class in 1941 (#220-227) and ten M4 class in 1943 (#228-237). This type of locomotive took its name from the "Yellowstone Route", the name of the Northern Pacific line, the railroad which ordered the first 2-8-8-4s from Alco in 1928. No NP Yellowstones have survived, but there are three DM&IR Yellowstones left in the US. As well as M3 #225 on this page, you can see M3 #227 on the Lake Superior Railroad Museum page and M4 #229 on the Two Harbors, Depot Museum page. #225 is on display just off US Highway 2 in Proctor, MN. With the approach of WWII, the DM&IR faced some challenging freight requirements. Iron and steel would be crucial to the war effort and the railroad would need locomotives capable of hauling long (115 car plus) trains of 8,750 tons or more on 0.62% grades without stalling.


Original Design.