I found this historic early 1950's era photograph from the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, at My Link page Yesteryear Depot.Com, located to the right of Your computer screen.

The 2 -6- 2 Prairie type steam locomotive, was the fore runner of the highly successful 4-6-2 Pacific type, wich were used primarilly in passenger train service.
Few if any railroads had owned mainline versions of the 2 -6-2 Prairie wheel arrangement during the steam era. The Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe, the Chicago Great Western, The Northern Pacific, and the Chicago, Burlington & Quiincy did though.

The mainline 2-6-2 types, were versatile engines that could work on either local freight trains, and even secondary or branchline passenger trains. The early mainline 2-6-2 types, were prone to derailments at high speed on the New York Central Railroad.

This photo was taken at west suburban Downers Grove Illinois, on February 3rd 1953 near the end of the steam era. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy was already making great strides in obtaining diesel locomotives, but actually operated steam in regular service until 1958, and fantrip excusion steam charters until 1966.