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Norfolk and Western J Class 4-8-4.most powerful 4-8-4 built with tractive effort of 80,000 lbs. The J Class' extraordinary tractive effort was due to its relatively small diameter drivers of 70 inches. In spite of its small drivers the J Class' has a top speed of 110 mph thanks to light weight drive rods and valve gear and perfectly balanced wheels. This means the Js are intolerant of rough track, but in their heyday the J Classes were equally at home hauling premiere passenger trains like the Powhatan Arrow or coal drags through the mountains of Virginia.
