The Pennsylvania Railroad class B29s were four groups of 0-6-0 switcher steam locomotives built for the Pennsylvania Railroad for switching tasks along with the famous B6 class.
History and Design[]
During the Autumn of 1902, the PRR designed the large B6 class which became an instant success in switching chores and by that time the Railroad became interested more in new designs of switching locomotives early in the 20th century. The PRR drew up plans for a slightly smaller 0-6-0 like the B-8 with a good-sized boiler, creating the B29 in 1903. This new design featured a radial-stay boiler as most PRR steam didn't have and smaller 51" drivers unlike the B-6 and B-8s which had 56". The B29 class was designed with a slope back tender as well as being coal burners. According to an April 1915 drawing, the engines had 19" x 26" cylinders driven by Stephenson valve gear. The first of these new switchers was #7369 which was delivered by ALCO-Schenectady in January 1903 and starting that year until the end of 1913 many were constructed by the American Locomotive Company with a good share being made by the Lima Locomotive Works totaling to One hundred and thirty-six units.
Service and Retirement[]
The B29s were used primarily in Switching services and Industrial usage, they were Moreso used on the PRR's Subsidiary lines East and West. Not much was known about them but they were simply unusual to the railroad not looking too much like a typical Pennsy design. Unlike the better-known B-6s, B-8s, and B-28s, none of the B29 class locomotives entered the Superheater program and remained mostly all-stock. For unknown reasons the PRR didn't care to equip them with power-reverses. With Larger and more powerful switchers overshadowing during the 1920s, the Pennsy didn't see a need in large fleets of smaller locomotives and immediately began scrapping them in the second half of the decade as the last on the Roster was scrapped by 1932. None were preserved.
Stock List[]
| Number(s) | Builder | Year | Retired/Scrapped | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7369 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1/1903 | July 1926 | Built for PRR's PFtW&CRy, was First unit constructed. |
| 7028 | ALCO-Richmond | 1911 | October 1926 | |
| 7040 | ALCO-Richmond | 1911 | August 1930 | |
| 7042 | ALCO-Richmond | 1911 | October 1927 | Was used on PRR's Locomotive test plant in May 1912. |
| 7043 | ALCO-Richmond | 1911 | November 1930 | |
| 7046 | ALCO-Richmond | 1911 | September 1927 | |
| 7060 | ALCO-Richmond | 1911 | March 1929 | |
| 7146 | ALCO-Richmond | 1911 | December 1927 | |
| 7180 (Was built as GR&I #42 before renumbering in 1913) | Lima Works | 1912 | June 1930 | Former GR&I Ry. |
| 7184 (Was built as GR&I #43 before renumbering in 1913) | Lima Works | 1913 | September 1927 | Former GR&I Ry. |
| 7221 (Was built as GR&I #44 before renumbering in 1913) | Lima Works | 1912 | May 1926 | Former GR&I Ry. |
| 7237 (Was built as GR&I #45 before renumbering in 1913) | Lima Works | 1912 | September 1927 | Former GR&I Ry. |
| 7309 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1907 | January 1928 | |
| 7321 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1907 | December 1929 | |
| 7325 (Was built as GR&I #46 before renumbering in 1913) | Lima Works | 1913 | October 1929 | |
| 7370 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1903 | October 1928 | Built for PRR's PFtW&CRy. |
| 7446 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | June 1931 | |
| 7447 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | September 1927 | |
| 7448 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | August 1928 | |
| 7486 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | Unknown | Sold to New owner in July 1926, company unknown. |
| 7487 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | March 1928 | |
| 7488 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | April 1928 | |
| 7489 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | November 1927 | |
| 7490 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | October 1927 | |
| 7491 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | October 1927 | |
| 7492 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | September 1927 | |
| 7493 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | Sometime during the 1920s | |
| 7494 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | Sometime during the 1920s | |
| 7495 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | Sometime during the 1920s | |
| 7542 (Ren. #9202 in 12/1907) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | July 1926 | Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7543 (Ren. #9203 in 12/1907) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | September 1927 | Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7543 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | February 1927 | Possibly sold for scrap at date. |
| 7544 (Ren. #9204 in 12/1907) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | September 1927 | Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7544 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | September 1928 | |
| 7545 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | October 1927 | |
| 7556 (Ren. #9216 in 12/1907) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1907 | December 1928 | Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7570 (Ren. #9230 in 12/1907) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1907 | September 1927 | Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7572 (Ren. #9232 in 12/1907) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1907 | November 1927 | Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7596 (Ren. #9256 in 12/1907) | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | October 1926 | Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7597 (Ren. #9257 in 12/1908) | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | April 1930 | Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7598 (Ren. #9258 in 12/1908) | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | April 1929 | Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7603 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | September 1926 | |
| 7640 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | November 1928 | |
| 7665 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | November 1927 | |
| 7666 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | September 1930 | |
| 7670 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | October 1926 | |
| 7671 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | September 1928 | |
| 7672 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | January 1927 | |
| 7675 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | October 1928 | |
| 7677 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | February 1929 | |
| 7679 (Was built as GR&I #47 before renumbering in 1913) | Lima Works | 1913 | December 1927 | Former GR&I Ry. |
| 7686 (Was built as GR&I #48 before renumbering in 1913) | Lima Works | 1913 | September 1927 | Former GR&I Ry. |
| 7723 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1903 | July 1926 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry, possibly sold for scrap at date. |
| 7724 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1903 | January 1929 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7745 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | July 1926 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry, possibly sold for scrap at date. |
| 7746 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | February 1930 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7747 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | February 1927 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7749 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | July 1929 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7750 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | December 1928 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7751 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | March 1931 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7752 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | November 1928 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7764 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | April 1927 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7765 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | April 1928 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7780 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | July 1926 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7781 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | October 1927 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7782 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | January 1927 | Built for PRR's Cleveland & Pittsburgh Ry. |
| 7832 (Ren. #9003 in 1/1908) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | January 1929 | Built for PRR's Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtab Ry. |
| 7833 (Ren. #9004 in 10/1907) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | December 1928 | Built for PRR's Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtab Ry. |
| 7834 (Ren. #9005 in 12/1907) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | November 1927 | Built for PRR's Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtab Ry. |
| 7835 (Ren. #9006 in 12/1907) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | June 1928 | Built for PRR's Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtab Ry. |
| 7836 (Ren. #9007 in 12/1907) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | October 1927 | Built for PRR's Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtab Ry. |
| 7844 (Ren. #9015 in 11/1907) | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | January 1929 | Built for PRR's Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtab Ry. |
| 7845 (Ren. #9016 in 11/1907) | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | January 1929 | Built for PRR's Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtab Ry. |
| 7846 (Ren. #9017 in 11/1907) | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | September 1929 | Built for PRR's Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtab Ry. |
| 7850 (Ren. #9021 in 1/1908) | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | September 1929 | Built for PRR's Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtab Ry. |
| 7885 (Ren. #9056 in 9/1907) | ALCO-Schenectady | 1903 | Sometime late 1920s | Built for PRR's Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtab Ry. |
| 7899 (Ren. #9070 in 1/1908) | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | August 1929 | Built for PRR's Pittsburgh, Youngstown & Ashtab Ry. |
| 8006 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | February 1930 | |
| 8125 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | September 1927 | |
| 8136 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | February 1929 | |
| 8155 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | August 1926 | Possibly sold for scrap that date. |
| 8193 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | March 1930 | |
| 8217 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | January 1930 | |
| 8267 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | September 1927 | |
| 8294 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1903 | May 1928 | |
| 8324 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | December 1928 | |
| 8326 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | May 1929 | |
| 8336 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1907 | December 1927 | |
| 8355 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1907 | April 1931 | |
| 8357 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | February 1931 | |
| 8370 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1907 | August 1927 | |
| 8372 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1907 | June 1929 | |
| 8390 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | September 1929 | |
| 8398 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1903 | August 1930 | |
| 8399 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1903 | April 1931 | |
| 8400 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1903 | August 1929 | |
| 8412 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1903 | May 1930 | |
| 8435 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | December 1928 | |
| 8490 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | September 1929 | |
| 8491 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 4/1910 | January 1931 | |
| 8535 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | January 1928 | |
| 8537 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | February 1929 | |
| 8538 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | December 1930 | |
| 8549 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | 1930 or 1931? | Owned by PRR-Controlled PCC&ST.L.Ry. |
| 8550 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | August 1930 | Owned by PRR-Controlled PCC&ST.L.Ry. |
| 8551 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | November 1929 | Owned by PRR-Controlled PCC&ST.L.Ry. |
| 8552 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | January 1930 | Owned by PRR-Controlled PCC&ST.L.Ry. |
| 8553 | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | March 1929 | Owned by PRR-Controlled PCC&ST.L.Ry. |
| 8901 (Was built as GR&I #52 before renumbering in 1913, renumbered as #7901 in 4/1917) | Lima Works | 12/1912 | August 1927 | Former GR&I Ry. |
| 8906 (Ren. #7906 in 4/1917) | ALCO-Schenectady | 1905 | August 1929 | Built for PRR's Little Miami Railroad Subsidary. |
| 8922 (Was built as GR&I #53 before renumbering in 1913, renumbered as #7922 in 4/1917) | Lima Works | 1912 | August 1929 | Former GR&I Ry. |
| 8933 (Ren. #7933 in 4/1917) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1907 | February 1927 | |
| 8951 (Was built as GR&I #54 before renumbering in 1913, renumbered as #7951 in 4/1917) | Lima Works | 1912 | May 1928 | Former GR&I Ry. |
| 8965 (Ren. #7965 in 4/1917) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | September 1929 | Built for PRR's Little Miami Railroad Subsidary. |
| 8966 (Ren. #7966 in 4/1917) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | August 1930 | Built for PRR's Little Miami Railroad Subsidary. |
| 8967 (Ren. #7967 in 4/1917) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1906 | Unknown | Built for PRR's Little Miami Railroad Subsidiary, sold to New Owner in March 1930. |
| 8968 (Ren. #7968 in 4/1917) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 7/1906 | August 1931 | Built for PRR's Little Miami Railroad Subsidary. |
| 9116 (Was CL&N #7 before renumbering in 9/1920) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | October 1926 | Built for PRR's Cinc, Lebanon & Northern Line. |
| 9117 (Was CL&N #8 before renumbering in 9/1920) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1911 | March 1930 | Built for PRR's Cinc, Lebanon & Northern Line. |
| 9214 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | December 1928 | |
| 9218 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | September 1927 | |
| 9220 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | September 1928 | |
| 9224 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | February 1928 | |
| 9227 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | October 1927 | |
| 9352 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | February 1928 | |
| 9355 | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | January 1929 | |
| 9651 (Was renumbered from Wheeling Terminal #1 in 8/1920.) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1907 | October 1926 | Built for Wheeling Terminal Ry. |
| 9654 (Was renumbered from Wheeling Terminal #4 in 8/1920.) | ALCO-Schenectady | 1903 | April 1929 | Built for Wheeling Terminal Ry. |
| 9656 (Was renumbered from Wheeling Terminal #6 in 8/1920.) | ALCO-Pittsburgh | 1910 | December 1926 | Built for Wheeling Terminal Ry. |
| 9657 (Was renumbered from Wheeling Terminal #7 in 8/1920.) | Lima Works | 1912 | December 1926 | Built for Wheeling Terminal Ry. |
| 9700 | ALCO-Richmond | 1912 | December 1927 | Originally to be numbered #7929. |
| 9701 | ALCO-Richmond | 1912 | September 1930 | Originally to be numbered #7930. |
| 9702 | ALCO-Richmond | 1912 | June 1930 | Originally to be numbered #7931. |
| 9784 (Was built as GR&I #116 possibly before renumbering in 1920) | Lima Works | 1912 | July 1926 | Former GR&I Ry. |
| 9785 (Was built as GR&I #117 possibly before renumbering in 1920) | Lima Works | 1912 | July 1926 | Former GR&I Ry. |
| 9786 (Was built as GR&I #118 possibly before renumbering in 1920) | Lima Works | 1912 | April 1930 | Former GR&I Ry. |
Trivia[]
- The B29 class was one of few radial-stay boilered switchers built for the Pennsylvania Railroad during the early 20th century, the other is the B6sa as it had a Wooten design but a round boiler.
- Although many steam switchers of the 0-6-0 classification received power-reversers by the 1920s to make switching assignments easier, none of the B29s were ever given any.
- They were replaced by the B6 classes as they were more efficient that the last was off the roster by the end of 1931.
- The B29 was Moreso a switcher design to be used on the PRR's Subsidiary Trackage Lines mostly in the East and West territories.