Built to move coal for the war effort, the United States Railroad Administration (USRA) based its 2-8-8-2 on a proposed N&W design. Delivered in 1919, the 80 that were built were allocated to the N&W (50), Clinchfield (10) and Virginian (20). Improved copies were built in 1923 for the VGN, CRR, DRGW, NP and N&W. Only N&W continued to improve the design in later years, eventually leading to its superb Y6b. But many USRA 2-8-8-2s worked heavy freight and switching chores into the 1950s - some N&W engines weren't retired until 1958!