Pennsylvania No. 2512

Pennsylvania Railroad de Glehn locomotive
PRR No. 2512 at idle.
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Société Alsacienne de Constructions Mécaniques
Build date	1904
Total produced	1
Classification	4-4-2
Dimensions	Unknown
Rail gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Service information
Years in-service	1904 – 1912
Running numbers	2512
Disposition details
Preserved	None
Number scrapped	1

Pennsylvania Railroad No. 2512 was an unclassified 4-4-2 Atlantic-type de Glehn compound steam locomotive that operated on the Pennsylvania Railroad from 1904 to 1912.

History

On seeing the success of Alfred de Glehn's compound locomotives on various French railroads, the PRR believed such a design could possibly inspire their engineers and as such, purchased one locomotive for experimentation. Despite the locomotive supposedly belonging to the E class on the Pennsy, this locomotive never received any formal class as it was a single, experimental unit. Despite being based on the SACM's designs, the locomotive was actually assembled in PRR's Altoona Works.

Numbered 2512, this locomotive was tested on the PRR and was also displayed as one of the PRR System exhibits at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904. The locomotive was also tested at the Locomotive Testing Plant to showcase the PRR's contributions to the advancement in science and engineering. However, the locomotive was found to be too light for service on the PRR and saw little service outside of the PRR's shops, and was deemed to not be exactly that suitable for service on the Pennsy; it was later retired in 1912 and scrapped the same year, and as such, the locomotive does not survive today.

Design

The locomotive was designed on a slightly different philosophy than most other PRR steam locomotives. The locomotive, just like most Pennsylvania locomotives, used a Belpaire firebox but had large Serve boiler tubes unlike most locomotives on the Pennsy. The 2512 was noted to be steady at any speeds, with little motion of any kind. The locomotive had a relatively high boiler pressure and had splashers with holes over its driving wheels. The locomotive had four cylinders; the high-pressure cylinders were situated on the outside, while the low-pressure cylinders were located between the frames and drove the leading coupled axle. All four cylinders were driven by a set of valve gear for each cylinder, leading to four sets of valve gear.

Trivia

• While in service on the PRR, the locomotive was nicknamed de Glehn and The French Aristocrat.

References

• Wikipedia.org