Pennsylvania Railroad 7002

Coordinates: 39°58′56″N 76°9′40″W / 39.98222°N 76.16111°W / 39.98222; -76.16111

PRR 7002
PRR No. 7002 still on static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Altoona Works, Altoona, Pennsylvania Build date August 1902 Rebuild date 1982–1983
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-4-2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 80 in (2,032 mm) Length 68 ft 6 in (20.9 m) Adhesive weight 127,200 lb (57,700 kg) Loco weight 175,400 lb (79,600 kg) Tender weight 72,350 lb (32,820 kg) Fuel type Coal Boiler pressure 205 psi (1,413 kPa) Heating surface:  • Firebox 187 sq ft (17 m2) Superheater: ​  • Heating area 412 sq ft (38 m2)
Performance figures Tractive effort 27,419 lbf (122 kN) Factor of adh. 4.64
Career Operators Pennsylvania Railroad Strasburg Rail Road (leased from 1982–1989) Class E7s (8063) E2 (7002) Numbers PRR 8063 (originally) PRR 7002 (renumbered) Retired 1939 (revenue service) December 20, 1989 (excursion service) Restored August 1, 1983 Current owner Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Disposition Still On indoor static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania outside Strasburg, Pennsylvania U.S. National Register of Historic Places Official name Passenger Locomotive No. 7002 Designated December 17, 1979 MPS Pennsylvania Railroad Rolling Stock Thematic Resource

Pennsylvania Railroad No. 7002 is a class "E7s" 4-4-2 "Atlantic" type steam locomotive built for the Pennsylvania Railroad by their own Altoona Works in August 1902. Today, it is still on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania in the United States. Originally No. 8063, the PRR renumbered it to No. 7002 after the original, claimed to be a land-speed-record-setter, was scrapped. It is the only survivor of its class and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Revenue service and first retirement (1902–1939)[]

The E7s-class was created by replacing the slide valves above the cylinders on the E2a, E2b and E2c-classes with piston valves. Unlike the E2, the E2a, b, c and subsequent E7s class used Belpaire firebox instead of a "radial stay" firebox. The original No. 7002 was an E2-class locomotive built in August 1902 by the Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona Works in Altoona, Pennsylvania. On June 15, 1902, the Pennsylvania Railroad inaugurated its new 18-hour train service from New York City to Chicago, the Pennsylvania Special-forerunner to the famed Broadway Limited. 7002 was coupled to the train as the replacement locomotive in Crestline, Ohio. Delays east of Mansfield caused it to depart Crestline 25 minutes late. No. 7002 was claimed to have achieved 127.1 miles per hour (204.5 km/h) near Elida but this speed was based solely on two passing times recorded by separate observers at two different points (AY Tower and Elida) just 3 miles apart, and it is difficult to obtain even a general indication of a train's speed from signal box registers. (Speed on the East Coast Main Line p 69, by P Semmens). The train arrived on time in Fort Wayne, Indiana. It was scrapped in 1935. No. 8063 was an E2a-class also built in 1902 by the Altoona Works. It was upgraded to the E7s-class in 1916, No. 8063 was renumbered, altered to resemble No. 7002 and placed on exhibit as the "world's fastest steam engine" at the 1939 New York World's Fair and the Chicago Rairoad Fair in 1948-49.

First restoration and excursion career (1983–1989)[]

No. 7002 was transferred to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Railroad's historical collection in Northumberland, Pennsylvania in December 1979 by the Pennsylvania's successor Penn Central. No. 7002 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 1979. In 1982, No. 7002 was leased to and operated by the Strasburg Railroad, mostly as a stand in for their No. 89 which was undergoing a major rebuild for most of the 1980's. On August 1, 1983, No. 7002 returned to service back in operating condition and PRR 1223 made a doubleheader with PRR 7002 for the first time. On June 8, 1985, PRR 7002 & PRR 1223 make a trip from Strasburg to Harrisburg via Enola Yard when they reached to Rockville Bridge, they stopped while waiting for the Amtrack train to pass, after it passed the engines backed up, and started all over again and return. On August 23, 1985, PRR 7002 & PRR 1223 make a trip From Strasburg to Columbia to Harrisburg while waiting there, the steam special must wait until rail traffic can pass. when they got there at the Rockville Bridge, they backed up, and started all over again. while going back to Strasburg Railroad, GW 90 arrives at Leaman Place junction, and backs up, and coupled to the coaches. Meanwhile, PRR 7002 & PRR 1223 arrived after dropping off their coaches at Lancaster, and then GW 90 heads back to the depot, and PRR 7002 & PRR 1223 followed behind. On May 8, 1986, PRR 7002 & PRR 1223 make a trip from Strasburg to Leaman Place to go to Philadelphia. Out on the mainline, the special is negotiating a bend at Gap. The engines made a stop at Thorndale with a bunch of Conrail diesels beside them, and after they're refilled, and the passengers reboarded the train, they went to Berwin. Arriving at the huge Philadelphia station, passengers were unloaded for a lunch break, and the steam special backed down, Back in Paoli some people inspected to see PRR 7002 & PRR 1223 go by, then they stopped by at Thorndale with another water stop with a bunch of Amtrack trains. They crossed the stone viaduct and then they returned to gap. and when they got there, GW 90 was ready to couple on the back on to the train. When GW 90 waits for the Amtrack train to pass, it pulled the Broadway Limited after the Amtrack train passed, GW 90 had a hard time getting the train rolling and when they are home, GW 90, PRR 7002, & PRR 1223 went back to the station to complete a successful Strasburg Doubleheader. On June 13, 1987, It pulled the Broadway limited and PRR 1223 was there too. on November 19, 1988, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Abraham Linclon's trip over the same route to make the Gettysburg Address. PRR 7002 made its last run on December 20, 1989, both 1223 and 7002 were removed from service when the Strasburg Railroad acquired an ultrasonic testing device in December 1989 and discovered that the metal sides of the locomotives' fireboxes were too thin to allow for safe operation.

Second Retirement (1989–present)[]

PRR 7002 still on static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

After retirement from SRC, 1223 and 7002 were moved across the street to the museum. No. 7002 currently sits pilot to pilot with No. 1223 at the entrance to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania's Rollin Stock Hall. On June 4, 2010, PRR 7002 & PRR 1223 were “fired up” for a photo event. Since then 7002 has sat on display in the museum alongside 1223. It’s very unlikely it’ll ever run again as the museum makes to keep the engine in it’s original condition.

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