C&O ALLEGHENY #1601 DCC & SOUND

The 2-6-6-6 is an articulated locomotive type with two leading wheels, two sets of six driving wheels and six trailing wheels. Only two classes of the 2-6-6-6 type were built. One was the "Allegheny" class, built by the Lima Locomotive Works. The name comes from the locomotive's first service with the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway beginning in 1941.

The C&O Allegheny is widely regarded as the most powerful steam locomotive type ever built in terms of drawbar horsepower.  Designed and built by Chesapeake & Ohio and Lima, the nearby Virginian would also roster a small fleet based from the C&O's design. The articulated locomotive was of the 2-6-6-6 wheel arrangement and based purely on horsepower and tractive effort nothing could top it.  The engine's boiler was capable of creating an incredible 8,000 horsepower.

Ultimately, Lima produced 60 Alleghenies for C&O between 1941-1948 while the nearby Virginian would acquire 8 examples of similar design. Despite their formidable strength and endurance, the reign of the Alleghenies was short-lived. The advancement of diesel-electric technology in the 1950s, which were cheaper to run and maintain, provided greater flexibility, signaling the end of steam locomotive production in America.  By 1956, all Alleghenies were retired from service and Virginian's eight Blue Ridge examples had been scrapped by 1960.