Sep 26, 2016 · the 2-8-8-8-4 triplex was the Virgian loco,they only had 1. by the early 20s it was turned into a 2-8-8-0,and a 2-8-2. so it didn't last as long as the Erie trio did. the MTH model was the 1st triplex for the Erie,Matt Shay, which was slightly different than the 2 that followed it. the Boiler on the Virginian engine was similar to the Boilers