Prior to the start of World War One, the Russian Imperial Government ordered over 1200 "Decapod" type 2-10-0 steamers from Alco and Baldwin. But the Russian Revolution forced the cancellation of the order in 1917, leaving 200 undelivered. In 1918, these locos were rebuilt for US service and turned over to the United States Railroad Administration (USRA) who assigned them to various roads. In 1920, many of these "Russian Decapods" as the locos were coming to be known, began finding homes with smaller railroads. There, the combination of light weight and good pulling power made them an ideal freight engine. For some roads, they were the biggest steam locos ever purchased.