Nice Great Northern wooden box.
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Impressive photo.
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To aid these behemoths in handling curves and switches, ALCO originally planned for "blind" that is flangeless wheels to be used on some axles. Instead UP had "lateral motion devices" on the first and sixth axles that allowed axles to slide up to two inches to the side to handle curves. The Russian "4-14-4" had used these designs; "blind" flangeless wheels on the center three axles and "lateral motion devices" on the first and seventh axles. These, however could not counter the massive loco's weight that still caused damage to tracks and switches. Due to design problems for Southern Pacific's 2-10-2, its top speed was limited to 35 mph. This was due to large cylinders with smaller valves; small wheel diameter with underweight balances (to counter the weight of the moving rods and drivers); and the third axle being too close to engine's center of gravity causing nosing at higher speeds. Union Pacific got it all right with their 9000s!!
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