PRR No. 643 is a black 0-6-0 tender steam locomotive built in 1901.
History[]
Pennsylvania Railroad No. 643 is a PRR B4a[1][2] class 0-6-0 Switcher-type steam locomotive. It was built by the PRR’s Juniata shops[3] in Altoona, Pennsylvania (PA) in June,[3][4][5] 1901[1][3][5] as builder's number 2184[4][5][6] to be used for shunting operations.[1][2] However at the time of No. 643's construction it was almost immediately surplus to requirements,[1][3] with the B6[7] class soon replacing most B4[2] classes in the next decade.[1]
No. 643 was withdrawn from the PRR and was sold to the Central Iron and Steel company of Harrisburg, PA in 1917.[1][3][4][8] It was renumbered No. 5[1][8][9] and worked for the company for the next four decades, including when the company became Phoenix Iron and Steel[1] in 1955[8] and when it was renamed again to Phoenix Steel corporation in 1958.[8]
The locomotive received a new boiler in 1945 from the H. K. Porter company.[1] PRR No. 643 was sold to Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association (WGHSEA) in 1961[1][3][4][8] after Phoenix Iron and Steel ceased operation in 1959[1][8] (having sat unused in an abandoned mill building[4][9]). Since then, it has been owned and operated by the Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association, based at the Williams Grove Railroad (WGRR).[1][4] No. 643 underwent a minor rebuild from 2001 to 2006.[5]
Trivia[]
- No. 643 is the only PRR steam locomotive that’s still in operation today.[3][6]
- At some point during No. 643's career in the steel industry as No. 5, it gained a larger tender.[1]
Gallery[]
Bibliography[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 https://wgrailroad.wordpress.com/steam-locomotive-643/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://jdhsmith.math.iastate.edu/term/slusprr.htm
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 https://akronrrclub.wordpress.com/2022/09/03/ex-pennsy-steamer-toils-in-obscurity/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 https://www.wghsea.org/steam-engine-643
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 https://www.steamlocomotive.info/vlocomotive.cfm?Display=1009
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 https://www.steamlocomotive.com/survivors/search.php?builder=PRR+%28Altoona%29&status=operational&country=USA
- ↑ http://jbritton.pennsyrr.com/index.php/tpm/116-steam-locomotive-class-model-cross-reference
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 https://www.steamlocomotive.info/nlocoowner.cfm?which=1009
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://rrmuseumpa.andornot.com/permalink/archives192122