0-8-0 - Overview

Overview

Examples of the 0-8-0 wheel arrangement were constructed both as tender locomotives and tank locomotives. The earliest locomotives were built for mainline haulage, particularly for freight, but later the configuration was also often used for large switcher (shunter) types.

The wheel arrangement provided a powerful layout, with all weight as adhesive weight and thus tractive effort and factor of adhesion were maximised. The layout was generally too large for smaller and lighter railways, where the more popular 0-6-0 wheel arrangement would often be found performing similar duties.