Old timers didn't say much good about class K-27s. 454 and 463 were frequently mentioned .463 was a very nice engine to run ,but a poor steamer . Knoob and I figured out that if ran in specific notches on the cutoff and throttle ,it would hold steam and water . I think John Bush or Jack Campbell found that the stack was mounted off-center from the nozzle , a sure cause for poor steaming . I know 455 and 461 were like very much by RGS crews .
The three outside framed 2-8-0s (360,361 ,and 375) had a spotted history . 360 and 361 supposedly were poor steamers . Some say 375 didn't steam either ,though John Norwood said in one of his books that it was a good steamer.
Though 490s were good steamers ,they had a poorly-designed two-seat throttle that was hard to correctly adjust .494 and 495 had terrible throttles that were extrememly hard to open or close . Engineers dreaded them .
SOme 470s were rumored to be poor steamers , but they have been gone so long I only met one person who knew anything about them . Crews generally likes the 470s as the rode very well .One exception was 478 ,that rode rougher than the other remaining two in the class . Like i said before ,engines went in and out of favor , depending on its maintenance staus .