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Purpose-built and too large for most roads, only 80 USRA 2-8-8-2s were ordered for three coal-hauling roads: N&W, Clinchfield, and Virginian. While N&W liked their new class Y-3s, the other roads were less than enthusiastic. Virginian flatly refused the five it had been allocated, which were then sold to the N&W. Before the year was out however, the USRA ousted the road's president and 20 were delivered as class USA. Clinchfield took 10 of the new class L-2 engines, which were on a par with its own L-1 2-8-8-2s.
After USRA control ended in 1920, copies of its designs were built for some years to come. Improved versions of the 2-8-8-2 were ordered in 1923, including 15 for the Virginian (class USB), 10 for the Clinchfield (class L-3), 10 for Rio Grande (class L-107) who assigned them to Utah coal service, four for the NP (class Z-4), and another 30 for the N&W. Only N&W continued to improve on the design, eventually leading to its superb Y6b. Perhaps the best testament to the success of the USRA 2-8-8-2 was its long years of service, with many handling heavy freight and switching service into the 1950s - some N&W engines were still active as late as 1958!
