This Northern Pacific Railroad Mug holds 11oz of your favorite beverage. This white coffee mug features the Northern Pacific Railroad’s famous Z-5 class 2-8-8-4 articulated steam locomotive. The largest steam engine in the world when built. The Northern Pacific Railway (reporting mark NP) was a transcontinental railroad that operated across the northern tier of the western United States, from Minnesota to the Pacific Northwest. It was approved by Congress in 1864 and given nearly 40 million acres of land grants, which it used to raise money in Europe for construction.

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The Northern Pacific Z5 Railroad was a remarkable feat of engineering in the 1920s and 1930s. It used powerful steam locomotives called Yellowstones, which had a 2-8-8-4 wheel arrangement. These were the largest locomotives in the world when they were built, and they could haul heavy freight trains across the plains of North Dakota.

The first Yellowstone was made by ALCO in 1928 for the Northern Pacific. It had a huge firebox that could burn low-grade Rosebud coal, which was mined along the line. The firebox was so big that ALCO hosted a dinner for 12 people inside it! However, the firebox was too large to maintain a high temperature and complete combustion, so the Northern Pacific blocked off the front two feet of it on each locomotive.

The Northern Pacific ordered 11 more Yellowstones in 1930, but this time they gave the contract to Baldwin, who offered a lower price. Baldwin copied the design of the ALCO engine, but added roller bearings to reduce friction and wear. The Baldwin Yellowstones steamed better and produced more power than the ALCO one. They were assigned to the Yellowstone Division, where they replaced two smaller locomotives on each train.

The Northern Pacific Z5 Railroad was a pioneer in using giant articulated steam locomotives for fast and efficient freight service. The Yellowstones were impressive machines that could handle any load on any grade. They were also beautiful to look at, with their sleek lines and green and black paint scheme. They were a symbol of the Northern Pacific’s strength and innovation.