The Pennsylvania Railroad H28 class 2-8-0s were a pair of two experimental steam locomotives built for the PRR for freight service as concepts of larger consolidations to replace the slightly smaller H6 classes.
History and Origins[]
In 1905, the same year of the end of the production of H6a's and the beginning of production of H6b's, the Pennsy decided to experiment with a larger consolidation type with an oversize boiler to replace the numerous H6 classes in the future. The first locomotive of the new H28 class was delivered in August 1905 by the American Locomotive Company's Schenectady Works as #2762 (ALCO-Schen #37777) and the next month was #7748 (ALCO-Schen #31246), these two locomotives were delivered by September 1905. When the PRR received the pair, they were improved engines of such size with mammoth boilers, they bared large 23" x 32" cylinders. Built with 80" boilers and 63" drivers with 200 Lbs. of PSI, they put out a good Starting tractive effort of 45,679 Lbs. The H28 class wasn't as special to the Pennsylvania Railroad as essentially a copy off of the New York Central G class with a Pennsy low-sided tender design and other Pennsy touch ups. What made the PRR H28s unique was that they, unlike most PRR owned steam locomotives in the early 20th century didn't have the Pennsy's trademark Belpaire fireboxes but had the common Stephenson valve linkage.
Performance and Operating History[]
When first put into service, at the time they were the largest Steam Locomotives on the railroad and were intended to pull heavy freight trains of coal. Not much was known about the unique Pennsy-owned Alcos but they're design wasn't duplicated for some reason as the railroad lost interest in further development, like superheating. Both units didn't last longer than little over a decade.
Retirements and Fate[]
| Number(s) | Manufatcurer | Year built | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2762 (Ren. TH&B #60 in 12/1916, kept same number through several owners until late 1920s. | ALCO-Schenectady #37777 | August 1905 | December 1916 (By PRR), 1933 (Entirely) | Sold to the Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo railway in December 1916 as their G-1 class #60, was resold in February 1920 to the Raleigh Lumber Company keeping number, resold to unknown date to the Cincinatti, Indianapolis and Western as #331. The C&IW Ry. was bought by the Baltimore and Ohio in 1927, and the lone Consolidation was renumbered #439 and reclassified as B&O E-45. Retired by B&O in 1933. |
| 7748 | ALCO-Schenectady #31246 | September 1905 | Retired by PRR in Early 1917. | Reasons for early retirement unknown. |
Trivia[]
- Despite the class's successful motive power, they oddly didn't last long on the Pennsy as they became eclipsed by expanding the 2-8-0 such as the debut of the numerous H8 classes of 1907 and the H9 classes of 1913.
- The H28 class was the locomotive that inspired the PRR to develop the later designs. Both were scrapped as none of the Pennsy's experimental steam locomotives weren't saved.
- The two engines were the only 20th century-built Consolidations on the Pennsy to have Radial-stay boilers.
- The H28 was known to be a slight copy off the Rival New York Central's G-6 and G-46 designs.
- Like most modern Pennsy engines of this classification, they had water scoops under they're tenders but with spoked wheels.