Pennsylvania Railroad I1 class

The Pennsylvania Railroad's class I1s steam locomotives were the largest class of 2-10-0 "Decapods" in the United States. From 1916 to 1923, 598 locomotives were produced (123 at Altoona Works and 475 at Baldwin Locomotive Works). They were the dominant freight locomotive on the system until World War II and remained in service until 1957. Nicknames for the type included Decs and Hippos, the latter due to their large boiler.

Pennsylvania Railroad I1s
PRR I1s prepares to leave the docks at Cleveland, Ohio with a trainload of iron ore in May, 1943.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderPennsylvania Railroad's Altoona Shops (123); Baldwin Locomotive Works (475)
Build date1916–1923
Total produced598
Specifications
Configuration:
​
 • Whyte2-10-0
Gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.33 in (838 mm)
Driver dia.62 in (1,575 mm)
Height15 ft (4.57 m)
Axle load72,600 lb (32,900 kilograms; 32.9 metric tons)
Adhesive weight352,500 lb (159,900 kilograms; 159.9 metric tons)
Loco weight386,100 lb (175,100 kilograms; 175.1 metric tons)
Tender weight204,700 lb (92,900 kilograms; 92.9 metric tons)
Total weight590,800 lb (268,000 kilograms; 268.0 metric tons)
Fuel capacity18.7 t (18.4 long tons; 20.6 short tons)
Water cap.10,300 US gal (39,000 L; 8,600 imp gal)
Fuel consumption7 t (6.9 long tons; 7.7 short tons) of coal per hour
Firebox:
 • Firegrate area		69.9 sq ft (6.49 m2)
Boiler93 in (2,362 mm)
Boiler pressure250 psi (1.7 MPa)
Feedwater heaterWorthington BL
Cylinders2
Cylinder size30+1⁄2 in × 32 in (775 mm × 813 mm)
bore × stroke
Valve gearWalschaerts
Performance figures
Maximum speed50 mph (80 km/h)
Tractive effortI1s—96,000 lbf (430 kN)
I1sa—102,027 lbf (453.84 kN)
93,625 lbf (416.46 kN) @78% cutoff
Career
OperatorsPennsylvania Railroad
NicknamesHippos
Retired1950-1957
PreservedOne - #4483
DispositionPRR 4483 on display, remainder scrapped

The I1s design was much larger than the 2-10-0 design that preceded it, 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, prone to slipping, and unpopular 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 combination lever. The I1s locomotives were converted to I1sa during major overhauls; eventually, 489 were converted while 109 remained as-built.

Preservation

Of the 598 class I1 locomotives built for the Pennsylvania Railroad, only one (#4483) survived the scrapper's torch. PRR 4483 was built in May 1923 and assigned to drag freight service.[2] In February 1931, it was converted to an I1sa, increasing its tractive effort, and assigned to the Eastern Region, Susquehanna Division and Northern Region. On 1 November 1944, PRR 4483 was reassigned to the Eastern Region, Central PA Division and Williamsport Division and equipped with a cab signal, whistle and acknowledger. In the early 1950s, it was again reassigned to the PRR Ebenezer, often seen hauling coal drags up the Elmira Branch to the coal unloading docks in Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario, New York.

On 7 August 1957, 4483 was retired.[3][4] In 1959, PRR 4483 was moved to the roundhouse in Northumberland, Pennsylvania.[5] In 1963, the engine was purchased by the Westinghouse Air Brake Company to display on the front lawn of their headquarters in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania.[3][6] The company had sought a railroad-themed display for its headquarters to commemorate its heritage of supplying air brakes to America's railroads. The locomotive saw little maintenance during this period and its condition deteriorated significantly, although the boiler's asbestos cladding was removed.[7] By 1982, after the company grew tired of the locomotive on its front lawn, the Western New York Railway Historical Society acquired PRR 4483 and moved it to Hamburg, New York, where it now resides.[7] Currently, the organization hopes to move the locomotive to the Heritage Discovery Center in Buffalo, New York to sit on public display.[7]

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

References
  1. "PRR I1s #4483 - www.rgusrail.com".
  2. Springirth, Kenneth C. (2017). Remembering the Pennsylvania Railroad. Fonthill Media. ISBN 978-1-62545-071-5.
  3. "PRR #4483". www.trainweb.org.
  4. Springirth, Kenneth C. (2017). Remembering the Pennsylvania Railroad. Fonthill Media. ISBN 978-1-62545-071-5.
  5. Weiser, Eugene (2013). The Pennsylvania Railroad: A Brief Look in Time. Seaford, DE: Dragonwick Publishing. p. 135. ISBN 9781300640783.
  6. Cupper, Dan (2002). Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Trail of History Guide. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. p. 22. ISBN 0-8117-2956-7.
  7. "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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