The Chicago & North Western’s class J 2-8-2s, numbering more 310, were the mainstay of the C&NW's freight operations until the advent of diesels. Erected by American Locomotive Company over a period of years beginning in 1913, most of them were rebuilt during their careers which, in many cases, lasted into the 1950s. (The late Don Ross’s site gives the build date for all members of the class.) Edwin Wilson of Milwaukee photographed No. 2403 at Manitowoc, Wisconsin on August 24, 1946. This engine, delivered in 1917, was among the first 193 delivered with the Baker valve gear. Evidence of later rebuilding is the apparent disc main driver center, and was fitted with a mechanical stoker in 1942. As delivered, members of the class J had 62-inch drivers with cylinder dimensions of 27x32 inches, and sustained 185 p.s.i. of boiler pressure. They weighed 304,500 pounds and exerted 59,167 pounds of tractive effort. They had 63 square feet of grate area; evaporative heating surface for these engines, as delivered, is given as 4154 square feet, with superheating surface totaling 890 square feet. (Specifications after rebuilding are given in the commentary for No. 2576.) The image was acquired from an eBay seller.