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Pennsylvania Railroad Steam Locomotives

The classifications given by railroads to their steam locomotive fleets were as varied as the machines themselves with several different designations within a particular class! Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotives were likewise organized under a myriad of classes ranging from A to T and the railroad fleeted a massive roster of several thousand units. In any event, the information here is merely meant to list the general types of steam locomotives operated by the PRR and does not go into detail about their specific differences.

Like the Pennsylvania Railroad itself, its steam locomotives were also legendary. Not only was the railroad's famed (and home-built) 4-6-2 Pacific Type, the Class K-4, extremely reliable but also it alone perhaps best symbolized the PRR. Aside from the K-4 the Pennsylvania also rostered many other celebrated steam locomotives including such as 2-10-4 Texas Types, 2-10-2 Santa Fes, unique 6-4-4-6 and 4-4-4-4 Duplexes, and 2-8-8-2 heavy articulateds. Today, while the PRR's largest steamers have since been scrapped nearly two dozen still exist, including two of its famed K-4s (one of which is under restoration at Steamtown to be returned to operation). To learn more about surviving Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotives please click here.

Class A

The PRR's Class A included its fleet of 0-4-0 and 0-4-0T switchers.

Class B

The PRR's Class B included its fleet of 0-6-0 and 0-6-0T switchers.

Class C

The PRR's Class C included its fleet of 0-8-0 and 0-8-0T switchers.

Class D

The PRR's Class D included its fleet of 4-4-0 Americans ranging from Class D to Class D61.

Class E

The PRR's Class E included its fleet of 4-4-2 Atlantics and ranged from Class E to Class E29.

Class F

The PRR's Class F included its fleet of 2-6-0 Moguls ranging from Class F1 to F61.

Class G

The PRR's Class G included its fleet of 4-6-0 Ten-Wheelers and included Class G1 to G61.

Class H

The PRR's Class H included its fleet of 2-8-0 Consolidations ranging from Class H1 to H61s.

Class HH

The PRR's Class HH was its small roster of 2-8-8-2 heavy articulateds. It should also be mentioned the that PRR rostered two 2-8-8-0 articulateds designated Class HC1s.

Class I

The PRR's Class I included its fleet of 2-10-0 Decapods and included Class I1s and I1sa.

Class J

The PRR's Class J included its fleet of 2-10-4 Texas Types and included Class J1 through J28.

Class K

The PRR's Class K was its fleet of 4-6-2 Pacifics, most famous of which was Class K4s (the entire fleet ranged from Class K2 to Class K29s).

Class L

The PRR's Class L included its fleet of 2-8-2 Mikados and included Class L1s and L2s.

Class M

The PRR's Class M included its fleet of 4-8-2 Mountains ranging from Class M1 through M1b.

Class N

The PRR's Class N included its fleet of 2-10-2 Santa Fes and included Class N1s through N2sa.

Class Q

The PRR's Class Q included two of its unique Duplex models, Q1 (4-6-4-4) and Q2 (4-4-6-4).

Class S

The PRR's Class S included two more unique designs, S1 (6-4-4-6 Duplex) and S2 (6-8-6).

Class T

The PRR's Class T included the railroads other Duplex design, the 4-4-4-4 which was designated under the T1 and T1a class.

For detailed roster information on Pennsylvnaia Railroad steam locomotives (much more than can be found here, including photographs) please click here to visit North East Rails.

For more reading on the Pennsylvania Railroad, especially regarding the railroad’s final years leading up to and through the Penn Central disaster I strongly recommend The Men Who Loved Trains from Rush Loving, Jr. It is one of my personal favorites and Loving gives a detailed look (as he was in the middle of and lived through the disaster) at management and operations (and their fundamental problems and flaws) while also keeping things very interesting and not just a boring textbook filled with dull numbers and procedures (the book was also given high marks by the leading industry magazine, Trains from Kalmbach Publishing). The book will also give you a good understanding about how the current eastern road’s fate came about through failed mergers and other attempts that were unsuccessful. If you own one railroad book in your collection I would highly suggest it be this one, you won’t be disappointed!

You might also be interested in Pennsylvania Railroad from Mike Schafer and Mike McBride. While the book is just a brief history on the railroad it is very well done and will at least give you a general overview and history of the Pennsy (and it is filled with many, excellent, historical and colorful photographs) at which point you can decide if you are interested in further books of study on the railroad (there are hundreds out there!). Even if you are a historian and/or fan of the PRR and have not seen this book I'm sure you will enjoy it! If you're interested in perhaps purchasing these books please visit The Railroad Diamond by clicking the tab in the menu to your left marked "TRD Store".

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