The Pennsylvania Railroad B7 class were a fleet of 0-6-0 steam locomotive switchers that were converted from R class (H3) 2-8-0 freight locomotives in the early 20th Century.
Origins and Details[]
With major uses of switching for freight cars and passenger cars as the world's largest Railroad in the late 19th to early 20th centuries, the Pennsy rebuilt thirty-two vintage H3 class (Originally R Class) 2-8-0 Consolidations for switching service as these older units were either being retired or scrapped at the time. As most of the H3s were retired in the first decade of the early 20th century by being replaced by more powerful designs of freight engines such as the H6a, the Pennsy found more uses for them as working along with the B-4 and B-5 classes which were the most recent steam Switchers to join the roster with build dates starting back in 1892 and conversion dates beginning later that decade. For use on tighter curves, the Railroad shops converted these engines into 0-6-0s by removing their lead trucks and last drive axles and sometimes keeping the original rectangle Tender. These were not new build locomotives as the Boiler design and Pistons remained the same. The B7 design after 1902 had the same specs of the H3 of 20" x 24" cylinders driving 50" driving wheels. The Boiler was a straight horizontal design of an Inner diameter of 61¾" producing 140 Lbs. Boiler Pressure. In all, thirty-two conversions were made.
Service Lives and Fate[]
As being used as switchers, the locomotives seen little service in their time as 0-6-0s. By 1902 the PRR developed the much larger B-6 class that had about almost twice the tractive effort of the older converted H7s, even after years of use as switchers these conversions were already outdated before 1910. Many were scrapped and sidelined by newer locomotives in the 1910s as all the unconverted H-3s were off the roster before the End of World War I. However, only very few of the B7 class engines received electric headlights and outlasted the original H3 class by barely a decade as the last few were cut up before 1925. None were preserved.
Stock List[]
| Number(s) | Year Built and Man. | 0-6-0 Conversion Rebuild Date | Retired and Scrapped | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PW&B Ry. No. 5087 (Built as #1501 class R, renumbered PW&B #5087 in 1903) | Juniata Shops, 1892. | September 1903 as Class B7a. | By 1912 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| PW&B Ry. No. 5397 (Built as #4 class R, renumbered PW&B #5097 in 1902, renumbered #5397 in 1912) | Altoona Shops, 1891. | September 1903 as Class B7a. | December 1913 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| PW&B Ry. #5104 (Built as #1379 class R, renumbered PW&B #5104 in 1903) | Baldwin, 1890. | October 1903 as Class B7a. | By 1913 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| PW&B Ry. #5193 (Built as #1573 class R, renumbered PW&B #5193 in 1903) | Baldwin, 1892. | September 1903 as Class B7a. | September 1913 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 17212 (Built as #1506 class R, renumbered #7025 in 4/1904, renumbered #7212 by 1916, renumbered as #17272 in 1919) | Juniata Shops, 1892. | Sometime 1904 as Class B7a. | November 1921 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 7026 (Built as PFt.W&C Ry. #26 as Class R, sold in 1902 to PRR renumbered as #7026) | Ft. Wayne Shops, 1891. | Sometime after 9/1908 as Class B7a. | October 1923 possibly for Scrap. | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 7078 (Built as PFt.W&C Ry. #78 as Class R, sold in 1902 to PRR renumbered as #7026) | Altoona Shops, 1896. | After 1902 as Class B7b. | Sold to New Owner in June 1923. | Became H3b class in September 1897. |
| 17082 (Built as PFt.W&C Ry. #82 as Class R, sold in 1902 to PRR renumbered as #7082 in 1902, renumbered as #17082 in 1919) | Ft. Wayne Shops, 1895. | Sometime after 9/1908 as Class B7b. | January 1923 | Became H3b class in September 1897. |
| 7141 (Built as PFt.W&C Ry. #141 as Class R, sold in 1902 to PRR renumbered as #7141) | Ft. Wayne Shops, 1891. | After 1902 as Class B7a. | Sometime Early 1920s. | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 7171 (Built as PFt.W&C Ry. #171 as Class R, sold in 1902 to PRR renumbered as #7171) | Juniata Shops, 1895. | After 1902 as Class B7b. | Sometime Early 1920s. | Became H3b class in September 1897. |
| 17181 (Built as PFt.W&C Ry. #181 as Class R, sold in 1902 to PRR renumbered as #7181, renumbered as #17181 in 1919) | Altoona Shops, 1896. | After 1902 as Class B7b. | November 1921 | Became H3b class in September 1897. |
| 7229 (Built as PFt.W&C Ry. #229 as Class R, sold in 1902 to PRR renumbered as #7229) | Juniata Shops, 1895. | After 1902 as Class B7b. | March 1924 | Became H3b class in September 1897. |
| 7262 (Built as PFt.W&C Ry. #262 as Class R, sold in 1902 to PRR renumbered as #7262) | Ft. Wayne Shops, 1892. | After 1902 as Class B7b. | December 1923 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 7313 (Built as PFt.W&C Ry. #313 as Class R, sold in 1902 to PRR renumbered as #7262) | Ft. Wayne Shops, 1891. | After 1902 as Class B7a. | July 1923 | Became H3c class in September 1897. |
| 7350 (Built as PFt.W&C Ry. #350 as Class R, sold in 1902 to PRR renumbered as #7350) | Ft. Wayne Shops, 1892. | After 1902 as Class B7a. | June 1923 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 7639 (Built as PFt.W&C Ry. #639 as Class R, sold in 1902 to PRR renumbered as #7639) | Ft. Wayne Shops, 1891. | Sometime after 9/1908 as Class B7a. | July 1923 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 7908 (Built as Little Miami Ry. #908 as Class R, renumbered #208 at unknown date until sold in 8/1902 to PRR renumbered to #8908, renumbered 3/1917 to #7908) | Juniata Shops, 1896. | After 1902 as Class B7a. | July 1923 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 17909 (Built as Little Miami Ry. #909 as Class R, sold in 8/1902 to PRR renumbered to #8909, renumbered 4/1917 to #7909, renumbered to #17909 in 4/1919) | Juniata Shops, 1892. | After 1902 as Class B7a. | May 1923 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 7919 (Built as Little Miami Ry. #919 as Class R, renumbered #219 prior to being sold in 8/1902 to PRR renumbered to #8919, renumbered 3/1917 to #7919) | Juniata Shops, 1896. | After 1902 as Class B7a. | April 1923 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 9245 (Built as PFt.W&CRy. #7223 as Class R, sold in 5/1903 to Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. as #7585, renumbered to #9245 in 12/1907, | Ft. Wayne Shops, 1891. | Sometime after 9/1908 as Class B7a. | October 1923 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 9246 (Built as PFt.W&CRy. #7230 as Class R, sold in 5/1903 to Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. as #7586, renumbered to #9246 in 12/1907, | Ft. Wayne Shops, 1892. | Sometime after 9/1908 as Class B7a. | January 1924 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 9247 (Built as PFt.W&CRy. #7251 as Class R, sold in 7/1903 to Erie & Pittsburgh Ry. as #7587, renumbered to #9247 in 12/1907, | Ft. Wayne Shops, 1891. | Sometime after 9/1908 as Class B7a. | June 1923 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 19838 (Built as CA&C #986 as Class R, sold in 7/1911 to PRR renumbered to #9838 and renumbered #19838 in 1919) | Altoona Shops, 1892. | Sometime after 9/1908 as Class B7a. | Sometime early 1920s. | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 5174 (Built as #1569 as Class R, sold in 1903 to PW&B renumbered #5174) | Baldwin, 1893. | September 1903 as Class B7a. | July 1914 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 5135 (Built as #1538 as Class R, sold in 1904 to PW&B renumbered as #5135) | Juniata Shops, 1892. | September 1903 as Class B7a. | June 1914 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 5138 (Built as #1546 as Class R, renumbered #5138 in 1911) | Altoona Shops, 1892. | September 1903 as Class B7a. | August 1914 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 5164 (Built as #1575 as Class R, sold in 1903 to PW&B renumbered #5164) | Baldwin, 1892. | September 1903 as Class B7a. | July 1914 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 0487 (Built as #487 as Class R, renumbered #0487 in 1913) | Juniata Shops, 1892. | August 1903 as Class B7a. | September 1913 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 01286 (Built as #1286 as Class R, renumbered #01286 in 1914) | Baldwin, 1888. | January 1903 as Class B7. | July 1914 | Became H3 class in September 1897. |
| 01498 (Built as #1498 as Class R, renumbered to #01498 in 1914) | Juniata Shops, 1892. | May 1903 as Class B7a. | April 1915 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 01556 (Built as #1556 as Class R, renumbered to #01556 in 1915) | Altoona Shops, 1892. | 1905 as Class B7a. | April 1915 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |
| 01576 (Built as #1576 as Class R, renumbered to #01576 in 1913) | Baldwin, 1892. | August 1903 as Class B7a. | September 1913 | Became H3a class in September 1897. |