Northern

Name used in North America for the steam locomotive type classified as 4-8-4 in the Whyte notation. Named after the Northern Pacific, the first railroad to order the type.

The Northern Pacific had an especial need for a locomotive with a bigger firebox than a 4-8-2 "Mountain" type could support, because they wanted to burn low-grade bituminous coal from mines they owned. This required a large, deep firebox to burn effectively.

North"ern (?), a. [AS. nor&edh;erne.]

1.

Of or pertaining to the north; being in the north, or nearer to that point than to the east or west.

2.

In a direction toward the north; as, to steer a northern course; coming from the north; as, a northern wind.

Northern diver. Zool. See Loon. -- Northern lights. See Aurora borealis, under Aurora. -- Northern spy Bot., an excellent American apple, of a yellowish color, marked with red.

© Webster 1913.