Available: 1910 - 1950
Type: Locomotive
Top Speed: 64km/h (40mi/h)
Power: 634kw (850hp)
Mass: 110t
Requirements: Standard gauge railway track
Cargo: Carries none directly. It can pull any locomotive-drawn wagon in the game.
The Baldwin 2-8-0 is the second locomotive in the U.S. set, being invented in 1910. Although its low top speed, tied with the Ce 6/8 Crocodile for lowest top speed for a standard gauge locomotive, combined with its high operating costs compared with its contemporary, the Special 2-4-2, may make it appear useless, the Baldwin can find many uses throughout its 40 years manufacturing run.
The Baldwin is suited more for heavy freight and mountainous terrain than it is topassengers or time-sensitive cargos. It has significantly more power than the Special 2-4-2. This means that it can accelerate heavy loads to decent speed in much less time than the Special and has less trouble on inclines. However, the 2-8-0 is a fair bit slower and more costly to run than the 2-4-2. This means that it cannot transport passenger and light freight trains as quickly, reducing its earnings on time-sensitive cargos like food or mail. Its higher operating costs may also reduce vehicle profit directly. The Baldwin 2-8-0 provides a nice upgrade on the Special 2-4-2 on heavy freight lines or difficult terrain, but otherwise it is better to pass on it and continue using the Special until Pacific is released.
After Pacific is designed in 1935 and the 2-4-2 becomes obsolete in 1940, the Baldwin becomes the low-end locomotive in the U.S. set. Although it is slower and significantly less powerful than Pacific, the 2-8-0 offers reduced operation costs and is a meaningful amount shorter than Pacific. This makes it useful when transporting light loads of durable cargos like coal over medium distances as its low speed will not significantly affect payoffs, its low running costs directly boost profits and its short length will allow an extra wagon to be attached to the train, increasing carrying capacity. Even after the invention of its successor, Pacific, the Baldwin remains a useful locomotive - it is sad it becomes 'obsolete' in 1950.
The Balwin 2-8-0's specialisation on heavy freight is fairly unique, the only others locomotives with a similar specialisation on freight transport are the Ce 6/8 Crocodile, a Swiss locomotive invented in 1920 and the SD70, an American lococomtive that is invented in 1994. Initially, its high power and later its low cost and short length make the Baldwin 2-8-0 a useful, if somewhat niche, locomotive.