The PRR H6 class Steam Locomotives were the original narrow-belpaire boilered versions of the H6 series 2-8-0 steam locomotives built for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
History and Development[]
In the late 1890s, the Pennsylvania Railroad was considered the "Standard Railroad of the World" as it was the largest in the United States, and known for experimenting with steam locomotives, the railroad needed lots of them. The Pennsylvania was in need of a more powerful steam locomotive type to fulfill heavy demands of the coming century. The premier bulk of freight engines at the time were the H1, H3, and H4 2-8-0 classes and some early G1 and G2 class Ten Wheelers. With freight trains getting heavier, the H3 engines with their small 50" Drivers could not move all the traffic, and more importantly couldn't do it fast enough. As several batches of F class 2-6-0s were ordered and put into service on the Pittsburgh Division, they were fast enough for the demands but they're tractive effort couldn't cope with the steep grades, so by the end of the century after the H4s and H5s were built, the PRR followed suit with a larger locomotive of the 2-8-0 design based on the specifications of the recently developed H5 class mountain pushers. Late that year, the PRR Altoona Shops and Juniata Shops drew plans for the H-6, the sixth design of 2-8-0s. These locomotives were to be built with 22" x 28" cylinders with Stephenson valve gear driving 56" drivers. The Boiler was slightly larger than the previous H5 of a maximum boiler diameter of 76" with a higher pressure of 205 Lbs. PSI than the earlier H5 of 185 Lbs. they also had a large narrow-belpaire firebox at the time with the design based on earlier classes which the H3 engines were the first to use the fireboxes back in 1885. The firebox measured 130" long by 40" wide, producing an impressive 42,168 Lbs. tractive effort. The first of these engines rolled out of Juniata in January 1899 was PRR #673, which was put into service on the Pennsylvania's Pittsburgh Division and becoming a standard freight locomotive for the end of the century, the railroad needed many to fulfill the demands of record-breaking railroad traffic. So for the next few years, one hundred and ninety of them were built by the Juniata Shops, the Altoona Shops, and the Baldwin Locomotive Works between early 1899 and late 1901.
Issues and Operations[]
Although the engine's pulling power and boiling performance proved to be enough for what the PRR needed, their fireboxes being too long was the main problem as they were hard to keep an even Fire. Engine crews didn't like them as they weren't free steaming as when they were working at capacity it resulted in poor combustion with small air space that resulted in dirty fires making black smoke. Although they had good pulling power working alongside the older H3 class around Altoona and by Horseshoe curve, these Early H6 engines proved to be unsuitable as the firemen claimed that they're heating spaces needed to be wider, earning them the nickname "Smooth Bores". They mainly worked as freight haulers, sometimes double-heading up the hills or pushing behind heavy trains.
Service, Rebuilds and Withdraw[]
As the Pennsy put in service during 1901 some 4-4-2 Atlantic's with wide bottomed belpaire fireboxes with better burning performances, this new redesign was re-applied on the flawed H6 engines as in 1901 the Pennsy developed the wide-belpaire H6a's which suited the demands better than the earlier H6. All H6 locomotives remained present in several services throughout the 1910s commonly found in various sites in Pennsylvania, most were never rebuilt as almost all of them were never changed barely. After the end of the First World War in 1918, the early H6s were already out of favor as the better steaming H6a's and B's were handling freights better and with less coal compared to they're older siblings. Starting in the early 1920s the railroad began retiring them in favor of better and bigger engines like the H8, H9, and H10 classes and beyond. However out of the one hundred and ninety engine units, one straight H6 #1848 was rebuilt with a Superheater, as three H6's #1847, #1851, and #1875 were rebuilt with wide-belpaire fireboxes becoming H6a's as two became H6sa's (#1847 and #1875) which were the only two that were ever so equipped. The rest of the original H6s remained unchanged as surplus as the last were scrapped by 1931, but some of the rebuilt engines lasted past that date by only a few years. None of these were preserved.
Stock List[]
| Number(s) | Builder | Year Built | Retired/Scrapped | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1084 (Ren. 01084 in 1921, and Ren. 2/1924 as #47) | PRR Juniata | 1899 | July 1927 | |
| 1806 (Ren. 01806 in 1913, and Ren. 8/1924 as #602) | Baldwin | 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 1853 (Ren. 01853 by 1921, and Ren. 2/1924 as #1937) | Baldwin | 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 1854 (Ren. 01854 in 1913, and Ren. 3/1924 as #1947) | Baldwin | 1900 | October 1925 | |
| 1882 (Ren. 01882 in 1921, and Ren. 8/1923 as #592) | Baldwin | 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 233 (Ren. 0233 in 1923, later NB&PL #23) | PRR Juniata | 1899 | Unknown | Sold March 1924 |
| 348 (Ren. 0348 in 1919, and Ren. 3/1924 as #2004) | PRR Altoona | 1899 | July 1926 | |
| 490 (Ren. 0490 in 1921) | PRR Juniata | 1899 | January 1924 | |
| 641 (Ren. 0641 in 1921) | PRR Juniata | 1899 | Early 1920s | |
| 102 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | January 1927 | |
| 1075 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 1115 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | September 1925 | |
| 1116 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 114 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | By late 1920s | |
| 115 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | August 1924 | |
| 118 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1202 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | November 1926 | |
| 123 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | May 1926 | |
| 141 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | October 1924 | |
| 1434 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1437 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 166 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | December 1926 | |
| 1664 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | October 1925 | |
| 1665 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1667 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | June 1924 | |
| 167 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | August 1924 | |
| 1673 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1926 | |
| 1699 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | September 1925 | |
| 1706 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 1736 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | May 1926 | |
| 1739 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 1751 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 1756 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | May 1926 | |
| 1757 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1758 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1804 | Baldwin | 1899 | February 1927 | |
| 1805 | Baldwin | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1807 | Baldwin | 1899 | February 1925 | |
| 1808 | Baldwin | 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 1809 | Baldwin | 1899 | October 1924 | |
| 1810 (Ren. N&PB #20) | Baldwin | 1899 | Unknown | Sold March 1923 |
| 1811 (Ren. N&PB #18) | Baldwin | 1899 | Unknown | Sold December 1922 |
| 1812 | Baldwin | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1813 | Baldwin | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1814 | Baldwin | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1815 | Baldwin | 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 1816 | Baldwin | 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 1817 | Baldwin | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1818 | Baldwin | 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 1819 | Baldwin | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1820 | Baldwin | 1899 | March 1926 | |
| 1821 | Baldwin | 1899 | September 1926 | |
| 1822 | Baldwin | 1899 | December 1924 | |
| 1823 | Baldwin | 1899 | May 1926 | |
| 1824 | Baldwin | 1899 | October 1926 | |
| 1825 | Baldwin | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1826 | Baldwin | 1899 | May 1925 | |
| 1827 | Baldwin | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1828 (Ren. Midland Valley #80) | Baldwin | 1899 | Unknown | Sold September 1917 |
| 1829 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1830 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | May 1926 | |
| 1831 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | February 1926 | |
| 1832 (Ren. Genral Equipment Co. #2011) | PRR Juniata | 1899 | Unknown | Sold March 1917 |
| 1833 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | August 1926 | |
| 1834 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 1835 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1836 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1837 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 1838 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | By late 1920s | |
| 1839 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 1840 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | December 1924 | |
| 1841 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | November 1925 | |
| 1842 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | February 1926 | |
| 1843 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | October 1927 | Last unmodified H6 to be retired. |
| 1844 (Ren. N&PB #19) | PRR Altoona | 1899 | Unknown | Sold December 1922 |
| 1845 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | September 1925 | |
| 1846 (Ren. N&PB #21) | PRR Altoona | 1899 | Unknown | Sold March 1923 |
| 1847 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | August 1933 | Rebuilt with new Wide firebox December 1904 as H6a, Superheater installed March 1918 as H6sa, pistons rebuilt with 23" Diameter. Was very last of the Original H6 design used. |
| 1848 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | April 1927 | Superheater installed June 1919 as H6s, pistons rebuilt with 23" Diameter, Only H6s. |
| 1849 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | December 1926 | |
| 1850 | Baldwin | 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1851 | Baldwin | 1900 | Before 1930 | Rebuilt with new Wide firebox becoming H6a. |
| 1852 | Baldwin | 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1855 | Baldwin | 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1856 | Baldwin | 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1857 | Baldwin | 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1858 | Baldwin | 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1859 | Baldwin | 1900 | February 1924 | |
| 1860 (Ren. General Equipment Co, then American Metal Co. Ltd. | Baldwin | 1900 | Unknown | Sold October 1916 to General, sale to American unknown. |
| 1861 | Baldwin | 1900 | February 1927 | |
| 1862 | Baldwin | 1900 | July 1927 | |
| 1863 | Baldwin | 1900 | December 1926 | |
| 1864 | Baldwin | 1900 | Possibly June 1929 | |
| 1865 | Baldwin | 1900 | April 1927 | |
| 1866 | Baldwin | 1900 | January 1926 | |
| 1867 | Baldwin | 1900 | March 1924 | |
| 1868 | Baldwin | 1900 | July 1926 | |
| 1869 | Baldwin | 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 1870 | Baldwin | 1900 | February 1926 | |
| 1871 | Baldwin | 1900 | Unknown | Sold March 1917 to General Equipment Co. |
| 1872 | Baldwin | 1900 | May 1927 | |
| 1873 | Baldwin | 1900 | Possibly August 1920 | |
| 1874 | Baldwin | 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 1875 | Baldwin | 1900 | Possibly July 1925 | Rebuilt November 1913 with wide-firebox H6a Boiler, becoming H6a. |
| 1876 | Baldwin | 1900 | February 1927 | |
| 1877 | Baldwin | 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 1878 | Baldwin | 1900 | March 1926 | |
| 1879 | Baldwin | 1900 | January 1926 | |
| 1880 | Baldwin | 1901 | January 1926 | |
| 1881 | Baldwin | 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 1883 | Baldwin | 1901 | May 1926 | |
| 1884 | Baldwin | 1901 | April 1926 | |
| 1885 | Baldwin | 1901 | May 1926 | |
| 1886 | Baldwin | 1901 | August 1926 | |
| 1887 | Baldwin | 1901 | January 1927 | |
| 1888 | Baldwin | 1901 | August 1927 | |
| 1889 | Baldwin | 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 199 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 213 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | September 1924 | |
| 214 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | February 1926 | |
| 224 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | Unknown | Sold October 1916 to American Metal Co. |
| 232 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 234 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | March 1924 | |
| 25 | PRR Altoona | 1900 | October 1926 | |
| 255 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | November 1926 | |
| 256 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | July 1926 | |
| 282 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 284 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | March 1924 | |
| 286 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | December 1926 | |
| 291 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | May 1926 | |
| 294 | PRR Altoona | 1900 | February 1926 | |
| 300 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | May 1926 | |
| 302 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | Before 1930 | |
| 306 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | September 1925 | |
| 308 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 321 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | May 1927 | |
| 322 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | December 1926 | |
| 326 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | September 1925 | |
| 351 (Ren. WNY&P #31) | PRR Juniata | 1901 | Unknown | Sold July 1901 to WNY&P, reasons unknown. |
| 354 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 369 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | November 1924 | |
| 373 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | September 1925 | |
| 377 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 380 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | December 1926 | |
| 394 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | August 1924 | |
| 466 (Ren. Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt. #24) | PRR Altoona | 1899 | Unknown | Sold in January 1925. |
| 470 (Ren. WNY&P #152) | PRR Juniata | 1901 | Unknown | Sold in July 1901. |
| 479 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | August 1926 | |
| 495 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 5 | APRR Juniata | 1899 | November 1924 | |
| 529 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | August 1924 | |
| 542 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 574 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 583 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1926 | |
| 586 | PRR Altoona | 1900 | March 1926 | |
| 589 | PRR Altoona | 1900 | August 1926 | |
| 592 (Ren. Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt. #22) | PRR Juniata | 1899 | Unknown | Possibly Sold June 1923. |
| 609 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | August 1924 | |
| 620 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | Possibly October 1926 | |
| 628 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | September 1925 | |
| 6313 (Ren. West New York and Pennsylvania #31) | PRR Juniata | 1901 | Unknown | Sold in August 1903. |
| 6314 (Ren. West New York and Pennsylvania #152) | PRR Juniata | 1901 | Unknown | Sold sometime in 1903. |
| 656 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | September 1926 | |
| 659 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 667 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | March 1927 | |
| 668 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | March 1926 | |
| 673 | PRR Juniata | 1/1899 | August 1926 | First production H6 built. |
| 678 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 707 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | January 1927 | |
| 725 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 740 | PRR Altoona | 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 743 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | July 1926 | |
| 771 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | October 1925 | |
| 772 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | June 1926 | |
| 794 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | October 1926 | |
| 811 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | December 1924 | |
| 824 | PRR Altoona | 1900 | March 1924 | |
| 832 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | June 1926 | |
| 845 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | October 1925 | |
| 847 | PRR Altoona | 1899 | March 1926 | |
| 883 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 885 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | December 1926 | |
| 893 | PRR Altoona | 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 898 | PRR Altoona | 1900 | January 1927 | |
| 90 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 902 | PRR Juniata | 1900 | October 1926 | |
| 978 (Ren. Midland Valley Railway #81 possibly) | PRR Altoona | 1900 | Unknown | Sold in September 1917. |
| 980 | PRR Altoona | 1900 | August 1924 | |
| 981 | PRR Juniata | 1899 | December 1926 | |
| 990 | PRR Juniata | 1901 | Sometime 1926 |
Trivia[]
- The original H6 design was the last 19th century era 2-8-0 built for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
- The original H6 was the last freight locomotive designed by the Pennsylvania Railroad to have a narrow-belpaire firebox as the Pennsy switched to the wide-belpaire firebox completely after 1901.
- The original H6 was the shortest lived of all the H6 series locomotives in general, although they were the first.
- They were nicknamed "Smooth Bores".
- Only a few of the original H6 locomotives outlasted the class as being rebuilt locomotives to other specs, such as those with rebuilt widths of their fireboxes or superheated rebuilds.