PRR 1223
Encyclopedia
PRR 1223 is the only preserved class D16sb
of the Pennsylvania Railroad
. The 4-4-0
sits on static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
in Strasburg. In the 1970s and 80s the 1223 ran on excursions on the Strasburg Rail Road
also in Strasburg
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
were the most modern of a long history of 4-4-0
type steam locomotives that the railroad used. The 1223 was home built by the railroad at its Juniata Shops in Altoona, PA, in 1905. As built it was a high speed passenger engine with tall driving wheels. However, the 4-4-0 type, long the mainstay of American passenger and freight service, was already becoming outmoded when the 1223 was built, being superseded by ever-larger engines. The Pennsy itself was pioneering steel passenger cars, which the public soon demanded for the implied increases in safety. The 1223 was eventually rebuilt with smaller driving wheels for local freight service, having been replaced on passenger trains by engines like the E6 Atlantics and K4 Pacifics. It was modernized as well, receiving superheaters [the "s" in D-16sb), piston valves, an electric headlight, and other improvements.
, but the Pennsy, the Boston and Maine, and Canadian Pacific Railway
, among others, were still using them. On the PRR in 1941 there were three working in Delaware
, Maryland, and Virginia on secondary branches of the PRR's Delmarva Line. Of the three 1223 was selected for display at a number of railroad fairs in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, and eventual preservation. The engine was also used in the film Hello, Dolly in 1969. For years the engine was stored at the roundhouse in Northumberland, Pennsylvania.
In the late 1960s the Strasburg Rail Road
in Strasburg, Pennsylvania
leased the 1223 from the Pennsylvania Railroad and restored it to operating condition. In the 70s and 80s the 1223 pulled the Strasburg's regular tourist trains, as well as occasional offline excursion trips. However, during the 1970s, the Pennsy had transferred its historical collection to the State of Pennsylvania, and most of it went on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
, just across the road from the Strasburg Rail Road's depot complex. The 1223 stayed in operation at Strasburg, with the museum taking over the lease from the PRR. In the late 1980's, Strasburg acquired a new ultrasound
device for measuring the thickness of the locomotives' boilers, and using this device, it was discovered that the number 1223's firebox walls were not thick enough to be compliant with the updated Federal Railroad Administration
regulations, thus deeming the engine unsafe for operation. The Strasburg declined to perform the necessary firebox work, and simply withdrew the engine in 1989. When the lease came up for renewal in the early 1990s the railroad decided not to renew, and the engine went on static indoor display in the nearby Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
, where it currently remains.
PRR D16
Class D16 on the Pennsylvania Railroad was their final development of the 4-4-0 "American" type of steam locomotive.A total of 429 of these locomotives were built, spread across five subclasses; some had diameter driving wheels for service in level territory, while others had drivers for...
of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. The 4-4-0
4-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
sits on static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is a railroad museum in Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.The museum is located on the east side of Strasburg along Pennsylvania Route 741...
in Strasburg. In the 1970s and 80s the 1223 ran on excursions on the Strasburg Rail Road
Strasburg Rail Road
The Strasburg Rail Road is a heritage railroad located near Strasburg, Pennsylvania. It operates excursion trains hauled by steam locomotives in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.Across the street lies the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania...
also in Strasburg
Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Strasburg is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It developed as a linear village along the Great Conestoga Road, stretching about two miles along path later known as the Strasburg Road...
. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
History of class
The class D16 locomotives of the Pennsylvania RailroadPennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
were the most modern of a long history of 4-4-0
4-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
type steam locomotives that the railroad used. The 1223 was home built by the railroad at its Juniata Shops in Altoona, PA, in 1905. As built it was a high speed passenger engine with tall driving wheels. However, the 4-4-0 type, long the mainstay of American passenger and freight service, was already becoming outmoded when the 1223 was built, being superseded by ever-larger engines. The Pennsy itself was pioneering steel passenger cars, which the public soon demanded for the implied increases in safety. The 1223 was eventually rebuilt with smaller driving wheels for local freight service, having been replaced on passenger trains by engines like the E6 Atlantics and K4 Pacifics. It was modernized as well, receiving superheaters [the "s" in D-16sb), piston valves, an electric headlight, and other improvements.
Later years
By the year 1940 most railroads had forgotten about the 4-4-04-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
, but the Pennsy, the Boston and Maine, and Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
, among others, were still using them. On the PRR in 1941 there were three working in Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, Maryland, and Virginia on secondary branches of the PRR's Delmarva Line. Of the three 1223 was selected for display at a number of railroad fairs in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, and eventual preservation. The engine was also used in the film Hello, Dolly in 1969. For years the engine was stored at the roundhouse in Northumberland, Pennsylvania.
Strasburg Rail Road
Strasburg Rail Road
The Strasburg Rail Road is a heritage railroad located near Strasburg, Pennsylvania. It operates excursion trains hauled by steam locomotives in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.Across the street lies the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania...
in Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Strasburg is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It developed as a linear village along the Great Conestoga Road, stretching about two miles along path later known as the Strasburg Road...
leased the 1223 from the Pennsylvania Railroad and restored it to operating condition. In the 70s and 80s the 1223 pulled the Strasburg's regular tourist trains, as well as occasional offline excursion trips. However, during the 1970s, the Pennsy had transferred its historical collection to the State of Pennsylvania, and most of it went on display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is a railroad museum in Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.The museum is located on the east side of Strasburg along Pennsylvania Route 741...
, just across the road from the Strasburg Rail Road's depot complex. The 1223 stayed in operation at Strasburg, with the museum taking over the lease from the PRR. In the late 1980's, Strasburg acquired a new ultrasound
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is cyclic sound pressure with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing. Ultrasound is thus not separated from "normal" sound based on differences in physical properties, only the fact that humans cannot hear it. Although this limit varies from person to person, it is...
device for measuring the thickness of the locomotives' boilers, and using this device, it was discovered that the number 1223's firebox walls were not thick enough to be compliant with the updated Federal Railroad Administration
Federal Railroad Administration
The Federal Railroad Administration is an agency in the United States Department of Transportation. The agency was created by the Department of Transportation Act of 1966...
regulations, thus deeming the engine unsafe for operation. The Strasburg declined to perform the necessary firebox work, and simply withdrew the engine in 1989. When the lease came up for renewal in the early 1990s the railroad decided not to renew, and the engine went on static indoor display in the nearby Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is a railroad museum in Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.The museum is located on the east side of Strasburg along Pennsylvania Route 741...
, where it currently remains.