Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) No. 7002 is an E7s Class 4-4-2 "Atlantic"-type steam locomotive that was built by Altoona Works in 1902 for the Pennsylvania Railroad and was originally numbered #8063. The locomotive spent most of its life hauling crack passenger trains along the Pennsylvania Railroad.
No. 8063 was renumbered, altered to resemble No. 7002 (another member of its class) and was placed on exhibit as the "world's fastest steam engine" at the 1939 New York World's Fair and the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1948–49. There were rumors and even stories that the engine was clocked at 127 miles an hour. The supposed record was set by the original #7002 between AY Tower and Elida, OH, on 12 June 1905 on its inaugural New York to Chicago run hauling the Broadway Limited. Because of the inconsistencies and mystery surrounding this timing, the Mallard is still famously known for holding this record.
No. 7002 was transferred to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania from the Pennsylvania Railroad's historical collection in Northumberland, Pennsylvania in December 1979 by the Pennsylvania's successor Penn Central. In 1982, 7002 was leased to and operated by the Strasburg Railroad, mostly as a stand in for their former CN 89 which was undergoing a major rebuild for most of the 1980's. In August 1, 1983 PRR 7002 was restored to operating condition. In 1983, PRR 7002 and PRR 1223 made a first doubleheader for the first time.
No. 7002 was mostly used on the half-hourly trains on the Strasburg Railroad but also two doubleheaded trips with PRR 1223 in the summer of 1985 to Harrisburg as well as a trip to Philadelphia on May 8, 1986. Over the span of her operational career, the 7002 celebrated two anniversaries. In June 13, 1987 it hauled a special train to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of the Broadway Limited; PRR 1223 was present at the same event. 7002 also ran between Hanover Junction and Gettysburg on 19 November 1988 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's trip over the same route to make the Gettysburg Address. The locomotive made its last run on December 20, 1989. On June 4, 2010 the locomotive was 'steamed up' using an oily rag, even though it has remained on static display.
As of today, the locomotive is still on static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania; it is unlikely to return to service due to stricter safety standards requiring thicker boilers, which 7002 lacks.
Pennsylvania Railroad -7002 Footage
Trivia[]
The Original 7002
- The original #7002 was also built in 1902 by the Altoona Works, but was scrapped in 1935.
- When #7002 moved to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, it was originally an outdoor exhibit; as of today, however, it is an indoor exhibit.
- No. 8063 was actually an E2a-class locomotive but it was upgraded to the E7s-class in 1916.
- The original #7002 was coupled to the train as the replacement locomotive in Crestline, OH on June 11, 1905, for the inaugural run of the Pennsy's new 18-hour passenger service from New York City to Chicago, the Pennsylvania Special—forerunner to the famed Broadway Limited.