Pennsylvania Railroad class I1s

Specifications
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-10-0
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.	62 in (1,575 mm)
Axle load	72,600 lb (32,900 kilograms; 32.9 metric tons)
Adhesive weight	352,500 lb (159,900 kilograms; 159.9 metric tons)
Loco weight	386,100 lb (175,100 kilograms; 175.1 metric tons)
Tender weight	204,700 lb (92,900 kilograms; 92.9 metric tons)
Total weight	590,800 lb (268,000 kilograms; 268.0 metric tons)
Fuel capacity	18.7 t (18.4 long tons; 20.6 short tons)
Water cap.	10,300 US gal (39,000 l; 8,600 imp gal)
Firebox:; • Firegrate area	69.9 sq ft (6.49 m2)
Boiler pressure	250 psi (1.7 MPa)
Feedwater heater	Worthington BL
Cylinders	2
Cylinder size	30+1⁄2 in × 32 in (775 mm × 813 mm); bore × stroke

Type and origin
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona Shops (123); Baldwin Locomotive Works (475)
Build date	1916–1923
Total produced	598

Pennsylvania Railroad I1s
Pennsylvania Railroad I1s
	PRR I1s prepares to leave the docks at Cleveland, Ohio with a trainload of iron ore in May, 1943.
Power type
Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona Shops (123); Baldwin Locomotive Works (475)
Build date	1916–1923
Total produced	598
Configuration:;
Specifications
Configuration:;
• Whyte	2-10-0
Gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Driver dia.	62 in (1,575 mm)
Axle load	72,600 lb (32,900 kilograms; 32.9 metric tons)
Adhesive weight	352,500 lb (159,900 kilograms; 159.9 metric tons)
Loco weight	386,100 lb (175,100 kilograms; 175.1 metric tons)
Tender weight	204,700 lb (92,900 kilograms; 92.9 metric tons)
Total weight	590,800 lb (268,000 kilograms; 268.0 metric tons)
Fuel capacity	18.7 t (18.4 long tons; 20.6 short tons)
Water cap.	10,300 US gal (39,000 l; 8,600 imp gal)
Firebox:; • Firegrate area	69.9 sq ft (6.49 m2)
Boiler pressure	250 psi (1.7 MPa)
Feedwater heater	Worthington BL
Cylinders	2
Cylinder size	30+1⁄2 in × 32 in (775 mm × 813 mm); bore × stroke
Maximum speed
Performance figures
Maximum speed	50 mph (80 km/h)
Tractive effort	I1s—96,000 lbf (430 kN); I1sa—102,027 lbf (453.84 kN); 93,625 lbf (416.46 kN) @78% cutoff
Operators
Career
Operators	Pennsylvania Railroad
Retired	1950-1957
Preserved	One - #4483
Disposition	PRR 4483 on display, remainder scrapped

The Pennsylvania Railroad's class I1s steam locomotives were the largest class of 2-10-0 "Decapods" in the United States, with 598 built 1916–1923 (Altoona: 123, Baldwin: 475). They were the dominant freight locomotive on the system until World War II, and they remained in service until the end of PRR steam in 1957. Nicknames for the type included Decs and Hippos, the latter due to the large boiler. Unlike smaller 2-10-0s that preceded them, the I1s design was huge, taking advantage of the PRR's heavy trackage and high allowed axle load, with a wide, free-steaming boiler. Large cylinders enabled the I1s to apply that power to the rails. However, the large boiler limited the size of the driving wheels, which made it impossible to mount counterweights large enough to balance the piston thrusts. As a result, they were hard riding at anything but low speeds and prone to slipping, and not popular with crews.^[1] The locomotives were known for being very powerful, with one author describing them as "the holy terror of the PRR".

Subclass I1sa increased maximum steam cut-off to admit steam for 78% of the piston stroke (rather than the original 50%), boosting low speed tractive effort from 90,000 to 96,000 pounds-force (400 to 430 kN). There was no obvious external difference except for a revised builders' plate (and of course the revised combination lever). I1s locomotives were converted to I1sa during major overhauls; eventually 489 were converted while 109 remained as built.

Preservation[]

Of the nearly 600 class I1 locomotives built for the Pennsy, a sole example, #4483, survived the scrapper's torch. Built by Baldwin in May 1923, the locomotive was retired in August 1957 after 34 years of service.^[2] Following then Chief of Motive Power Hal T. Cover's instructions, the railroad moved the engine to its roundhouse in Northumberland, PA, along with several other retired steam locomotives labeled for preservation. There the engine sat until 1963, when the PRR sold it to the Westinghouse Air Brake Company (WABCO) and moved the engine to Wilmerding, PA. WABCO had originally sought a railroad-themed display for its headquarters to commemorate its heritage of supplying air brakes to America's railroads. #4483 saw little maintenance during its life as a display piece for the company and its condition deteriorated significantly, although the boiler's asbestos cladding was removed.^[3]

By 1982, the company had grown tired of the locomotive on its front lawn. The Western New York Railway Historical Society acquired #4483 and moved the engine to Hamburg, NY, where it resides today, receiving occasional maintenance. Currently, the organization hopes to move the locomotive to the Heritage Discovery Center in Buffalo, NY, where the engine will sit on public display protected from the elements.^[3]

Gallery[]

PRR I1s #4300 in its Baldwin Locomotive Works builders' photo, taken in 1922.
PRR I1sa #4483 currently being cosmetically restored at Hamburg, New York.
Tender view of 4483
4258 with 210F75a "Coast-to-Coast" long haul tender.

References[]

^ "PRR I1s #4483 - www.rgusrail.com".
^ Springirth, Kenneth C. (2017). Remembering the Pennsylvania Railroad. Fonthill Media. ISBN 978-1-62545-071-5.
^ ^a ^b "PRR #4483". Western New York Railway Historical Society. February 7, 2017. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2019.

External links[]

[1] "PRR I1s #4483 - www.rgusrail.com".

[2] Springirth, Kenneth C. (2017). Remembering the Pennsylvania Railroad. Fonthill Media. ISBN 978-1-62545-071-5.

[:0-3] "PRR #4483". Western New York Railway Historical Society. February 7, 2017. Archived from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2019.

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