The PRR H6 class Steam Locomotives were the original narrow-Belaire Boilered versions of the H6 series 2-8-0 steam locomotives built for the Pennsylvania Railroad that influenced highly upon being developed later into various subclasses becoming the most produced locomotive design in the PRR's History.
1901 Builder's Photo
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 PRR 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 minimum Boiler diameter of 69 1/2" with the Maximum 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 January 1899 and April 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, when they were working at capacity it resulted in poor combustion with small air space that resulted in dirty fires making thick, 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 in helper roles.
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 November 1918, the early H6s were already out of favor as the better steaming H6a's and H6b'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 unfortunately.
Stock List[]
| Number(s) | Builder | Serial | Year Built | Retired/Scrapped | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1084 (Ren. 01084 in 1921, and Ren. 2/1924 as #47) | *PRR Juniata | 619 | September 1899 | July 1927 | |
| 1806 (Ren. 01806 in 1913, and Ren. 8/1924 as #602) | *Baldwin | 16821 | June 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 1853 (Ren. 01853 by 1921, and Ren. 2/1924 as #1937) | *Baldwin | 18192 | September 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 1854 (Ren. 01854 in 1913, and Ren. 3/1924 as #1947) | *Baldwin | 18193 | September 1900 | October 1925 | |
| 1882 (Ren. 01882 in 1921, and Ren. 8/1923 as #592) | *Baldwin | 18557 | January 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 233 (Ren. 0233 in 1923, later NB&PL #23) | *PRR Juniata | 584 | June 1899 | Unknown | Sold March 1924 to the Naval Base & Point Loma Line? |
| 348 (Ren. 0348 in 1919, and Ren. 3/1924 as #2004) | *PRR Altoona | 2084 | September 1899 | July 1926 | |
| 490 (Ren. 0490 in 1921) | *PRR Juniata | 617 | September 1899 | January 1924 | |
| 641 (Ren. 0641 in 1921) | *PRR Juniata | 616 | September 1899 | November 1927 | |
| 102 | *PRR Juniata | 594 | July 1899 | January 1927 | |
| 1075 | *PRR Juniata | 754 | January 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 1115 | *PRR Juniata | 703 | July 1900 | September 1925 | |
| 1116 | *PRR Juniata | 704 | August 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 114 | *PRR Juniata | 743 | December 1900 | By late 1920s | |
| 115 | *PRR Altoona | 2083 | August 1899 | August 1924 | |
| 118 | *PRR Juniata | 603 | August 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1202 | *PRR Juniata | 705 | August 1900 | November 1926 | |
| 123 | *PRR Juniata | 610 | August 1899 | May 1926 | |
| 141 | *PRR Juniata | 581 | May 1899 | October 1924 | |
| 1434 | *PRR Juniata | 575 | April 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1437 | *PRR Juniata | 576 | April 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 166 | *PRR Juniata | 742 | December 1900 | December 1926 | |
| 1664 | *PRR Juniata | 774 | April 1901 | October 1925 | |
| 1665 | *PRR Juniata | 602 | August 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1667 | *PRR Altoona | 2075 | July 1899 | June 1924 | |
| 167 | *PRR Juniata | 773 | April 1901 | August 1924 | |
| 1673 | *PRR Juniata | 598 | July 1899 | April 1926 | |
| 1699 | *PRR Juniata | 599 | July 1899 | September 1925 | |
| 1706 | *PRR Juniata | 775 | April 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 1736 | *PRR Juniata | 737 | November 1900 | May 1926 | |
| 1739 | *PRR Juniata | 592 | July 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 1751 | *PRR Juniata | 749 | December 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 1752 | *PRR Juniata | 750 | December 1900 | May 1926 | |
| 1757 | *PRR Altoona | 2079 | August 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1758 | *PRR Altoona | 2082 | August 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1804 | *Baldwin | 16819 | June 1899 | February 1927 | |
| 1805 | *Baldwin | 16820 | June 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1807 | *Baldwin | 16822 | June 1899 | February 1925 | |
| 1808 | *Baldwin | 16868 | July 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 1809 | *Baldwin | 16869 | July 1899 | October 1924 | |
| 1810 (Ren. N&PB #20 in 3/1923) | *Baldwin | 16870 | July 1899 | Unknown | Sold March 1923 to Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line. |
| 1811 (Ren. N&PB #18 in 12/1922) | *Baldwin | 16871 | July 1899 | Unknown | Sold December 1922 to Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line. |
| 1812 | *Baldwin | 16872 | July 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1813 | *Baldwin | 16873 | July 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1814 | *Baldwin | 16874 | July 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1815 | *Baldwin | 16875 | July 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 1816 | *Baldwin | 16876 | July 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 1817 | *Baldwin | 16877 | July 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1818 | *Baldwin | 16878 | July 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 1819 | *Baldwin | 16879 | July 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1820 | *Baldwin | 16880 | July 1899 | March 1926 | |
| 1821 | *Baldwin | 16881 | July 1899 | September 1926 | |
| 1822 | *Baldwin | 16882 | July 1899 | December 1924 | |
| 1823 | *Baldwin | 16883 | July 1899 | May 1926 | |
| 1824 | *Baldwin | 16884 | July 1899 | October 1926 | |
| 1825 | *Baldwin | 16919 | July 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1826 | *Baldwin | 16920 | July 1899 | May 1925 | |
| 1827 | *Baldwin | 16921 | July 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1828 (Ren. Midland Valley #80 in 9/1917) | *Baldwin | 16922 | July 1899 | Unknown | Sold September 1917 to the Midland Valley Ry. as their #80. |
| 1829 | *PRR Juniata | 621 | October 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1830 | *PRR Juniata | 622 | October 1899 | May 1926 | |
| 1831 | *PRR Juniata | 623 | October 1899 | February 1926 | |
| 1832 (Ren. Genral Equipment Co. #2011 in 3/1917) | *PRR Juniata | 624 | October 1899 | Unknown | Sold March 1917 to General Equipment Co. |
| 1833 | *PRR Juniata | 625 | October 1899 | August 1926 | |
| 1834 | *PRR Juniata | 626 | October 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 1835 | *PRR Juniata | 627 | October 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1836 | *PRR Juniata | 628 | October 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 1837 | *PRR Juniata | 629 | October 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 1838 | *PRR Juniata | 630 | November 1899 | April 1927 | |
| 1839 | *PRR Altoona | 2090 | October 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 1840 | *PRR Altoona | 2091 | November 1899 | December 1924 | |
| 1841 | *PRR Altoona | 2092 | November 1899 | November 1925 | |
| 1842 | *PRR Altoona | 2093 | November 1899 | February 1926 | |
| 1843 | *PRR Altoona | 2094 | November 1899 | October 1927 | Last unmodified H6 to be retired. |
| 1844 (Ren. N&PB #19 in 12/1922) | *PRR Altoona | 2095 | November 1899 | Unknown | Sold December 1922 to Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railway. |
| 1845 | *PRR Altoona | 2096 | November 1899 | September 1925 | |
| 1846 (Ren. N&PB #21 in 3/1923) | *PRR Altoona | 2097 | November 1899 | Unknown | Sold March 1923 to Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railway. |
| 1847 | *PRR Altoona | 2098 | November 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 | 2099 | November 1899 | April 1927 | Superheater installed June 1919 as H6s, pistons rebuilt with 23" Diameter, Only H6s ever to receive a Superheater. |
| 1849 | *PRR Juniata | 755 | February 1901 | December 1926 | |
| 1850 | *Baldwin | 18186 | September 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1851 | *Baldwin | 18190 | September 1900 | Before 1930 | Rebuilt with new Wide firebox becoming H6a at an unknown date. |
| 1852 | *Baldwin | 18191 | September 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1855 | *Baldwin | 18225 | September 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1856 | *Baldwin | 18226 | September 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1857 | *Baldwin | 18227 | September 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1858 | *Baldwin | 18252 | September 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 1859 | *Baldwin | 18253 | September 1900 | February 1924 | |
| 1860 (Ren. General Equipment Co, then American Metal Co. Ltd.) | *Baldwin | 18273 | October 1900 | Unknown | Sold October 1916 to General, sale to American Metal Co. unknown. |
| 1861 | *Baldwin | 18274 | October 1900 | February 1927 | |
| 1862 | *Baldwin | 18295 | October 1900 | July 1927 | |
| 1863 | *Baldwin | 18306 | October 1900 | December 1926 | |
| 1864 | *Baldwin | 18335 | October 1900 | Possibly June 1929. | |
| 1865 | *Baldwin | 18336 | October 1900 | April 1927 | |
| 1866 | *Baldwin | 18372 | November 1900 | January 1926 | |
| 1867 | *Baldwin | 18373 | November 1900 | March 1924 | |
| 1868 | *Baldwin | 18403 | November 1900 | July 1926 | |
| 1869 | *Baldwin | 18404 | November 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 1870 | *Baldwin | 18405 | November 1900 | February 1926 | |
| 1871 | *Baldwin | 18430 | December 1900 | Unknown | Sold March 1917 to General Equipment Co. |
| 1872 | *Baldwin | 18432 | December 1900 | May 1927 | |
| 1873 | *Baldwin | 18433 | December 1900 | Possibly August 1920. | |
| 1874 | *Baldwin | 18464 | December 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 1875 | *Baldwin | 18465 | December 1900 | Possibly July 1925. | Rebuilt November 1913 with a new wide-firebox H6a Boiler, becoming H6a. |
| 1876 | *Baldwin | 18489 | December 1900 | February 1927 | |
| 1877 | *Baldwin | 18490 | December 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 1878 | *Baldwin | 18498 | December 1900 | March 1926 | |
| 1879 | *Baldwin | 18499 | December 1900 | January 1926 | |
| 1880 | *Baldwin | 18538 | January 1901 | January 1926 | |
| 1881 | *Baldwin | 18539 | January 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 1883 | *Baldwin | 18558 | January 1901 | May 1926 | |
| 1884 | *Baldwin | 18605 | January 1901 | April 1926 | |
| 1885 | *Baldwin | 18606 | January 1901 | May 1926 | |
| 1886 | *Baldwin | 18607 | January 1901 | August 1926 | |
| 1887 | *Baldwin | 18608 | January 1901 | January 1927 | |
| 1888 | *Baldwin | 18634 | January 1901 | August 1927 | |
| 1889 | *Baldwin | 18645 | January 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 199 | *PRR Juniata | 561 | January 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 213 | *PRR Juniata | 574 | March 1899 | September 1924 | |
| 214 | *PRR Juniata | 601 | August 1899 | February 1926 | |
| 224 | *PRR Juniata | 604 | August 1899 | Unknown | Sold October 1916 to American Metal Co. |
| 232 | *PRR Juniata | 748 | December 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 234 | *PRR Juniata | 613 | September 1899 | March 1924 | |
| 25 | *PRR Altoona | 2142 | August 1900 | October 1926 | |
| 255 | *PRR Altoona | 2089 | October 1899 | November 1926 | |
| 256 | *PRR Juniata | 583 | May 1899 | July 1926 | |
| 282 | *PRR Juniata | 612 | September 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 284 | *PRR Juniata | 609 | August 1899 | March 1924 | |
| 286 | *PRR Juniata | 702 | July 1900 | December 1926 | |
| 291 | *PRR Juniata | 741 | November 1900 | May 1926 | |
| 294 | *PRR Altoona | 2139 | August 1900 | February 1916 | Scrapped in February 1926, early Retirement Reason unknown. |
| 300 | *PRR Juniata | 563 | February 1899 | May 1926 | |
| 302 | *PRR Juniata | 771 | March 1901 | Before 1930 | |
| 306 | *PRR Juniata | 600 | July 1899 | September 1925 | |
| 308 | *PRR Altoona | 2087 | October 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 321 | *PRR Juniata | 564 | February 1899 | May 1927 | |
| 322 | *PRR Juniata | 605 | August 1899 | December 1926 | |
| 326 | *PRR Juniata | 577 | April 1899 | September 1925 | |
| 351 (Ren. WNY&P #31 in 1/1901) | *PRR Juniata | 770 | March 1901 | Unknown | Sold July 1901 to Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad. |
| 354 | *PRR Juniata | 620 | September 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 369 | *PRR Juniata | 589 | June 1899 | November 1924 | |
| 373 | *PRR Juniata | 606 | August 1899 | September 1925 | |
| 377 | *PRR Juniata | 591 | June 1899 | January 1926 | |
| 380 | *PRR Juniata | 614 | September 1899 | December 1926 | |
| 394 | *PRR Juniata | 596 | July 1899 | August 1924 | |
| 466 (Ren. N&PB #24 in 1/1925) | *PRR Altoona | 2086 | October 1899 | Unknown | Sold in January 1925 to the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Railway. |
| 470 (Ren. WNY&P #152 in 1/1901) | *PRR Juniata | 769 | March 1901 | Unknown | Sold in July 1901 to the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad. |
| 479 | *PRR Juniata | 764 | March 1901 | August 1926 | |
| 495 | *PRR Juniata | 588 | June 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 5 | *PRR Juniata | 582 | May 1899 | November 1924 | |
| 529 | *PRR Juniata | 752 | January 1901 | August 1924 | |
| 542 | *PRR Juniata | 611 | September 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 574 | *PRR Juniata | 608 | August 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 583 | *PRR Juniata | 595 | July 1899 | April 1926 | |
| 586 | *PRR Altoona | 2143 | September 1900 | March 1926 | |
| 589 | *PRR Altoona | 2144 | September 1900 | August 1926 | |
| 592 (Ren. N&PB #22 in 6/1923) | *PRR Juniata | 597 | July 1899 | Unknown | Possibly Sold June 1923 to the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Railway. |
| 609 | *PRR Juniata | 706 | August 1900 | August 1924 | |
| 620 | *PRR Juniata | 738 | November 1900 | October 1926 | |
| 628 | *PRR Juniata | 739 | November 1900 | September 1925 | |
| 351, later 6313 (Ren. WNY&P #31 in 8/1903) | *PRR Juniata | 770 | March 1901 | Unknown | Sold in August 1903 to the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad. |
| 470, later 6314 (Ren. WNY&P #152 in 1903) | *PRR Juniata | 769 | March 1901 | Unknown | Sold sometime in 1903 to the Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad. |
| 656 | *PRR Juniata | 744 | December 1900 | September 1926 | |
| 659 | *PRR Juniata | 590 | June 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 667 | *PRR Juniata | 745 | December 1900 | March 1927 | |
| 668 | *PRR Juniata | 607 | August 1899 | March 1926 | |
| 673 | *PRR Juniata | 560 | January 1899 | August 1926 | First production H6 built. |
| 678 | *PRR Juniata | 562 | February 1899 | October 1925 | |
| 707 | *PRR Juniata | 751 | December 1900 | January 1927 | |
| 725 | *PRR Juniata | 753 | January 1901 | April 1925 | |
| 740 | *PRR Altoona | 2145 | September 1900 | April 1925 | |
| 743 | *PRR Altoona | 2085 | September 1899 | July 1926 | |
| 771 | *PRR Juniata | 756 | February 1901 | October 1925 | |
| 772 | *PRR Juniata | 593 | July 1899 | June 1926 | |
| 794 | *PRR Juniata | 578 | April 1899 | October 1926 | |
| 811 | *PRR Juniata | 746 | December 1900 | December 1924 | |
| 824 | *PRR Altoona | 2148 | September 1900 | March 1924 | |
| 832 | *PRR Juniata | 579 | May 1899 | June 1926 | |
| 845 | *PRR Juniata | 772 | March 1901 | October 1925 | |
| 847 | *PRR Altoona | 2088 | October 1899 | March 1926 | |
| 883 | *PRR Juniata | 573 | March 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 885 | *PRR Juniata | 747 | December 1900 | December 1926 | |
| 893 | *PRR Altoona | 2146 | September 1900 | Before 1930 | |
| 898 | *PRR Altoona | 2140 | August 1900 | January 1927 | |
| 90 | *PRR Juniata | 615 | September 1899 | April 1925 | |
| 902 | *PRR Juniata | 740 | November 1900 | October 1926 | |
| 978 (Ren. Midland Valley Railway #81 possibly) | *PRR Altoona | 2141 | August 1900 | Unknown | Sold in September 1917 to the Midland Valley Railway. |
| 980 | *PRR Altoona | 2147 | September 1900 | August 1924 | |
| 981 | *PRR Juniata | 618 | September 1899 | December 1926 | |
| 990 | *PRR Juniata | 757 | February 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.