Pennsylvania Railroad Class J1

Pennsylvania Railroad Class J1
PRR J1a 6432.
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Altoona Works
Build date	1942 – 1943
Total produced	125
Classification	2-10-4
Dimensions	1,412 in (358,648 mm) × Unknown × Unknown
Rail gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Valve gear	Baker
Service information
Years in-service	1942 – 1959
Running numbers	6150 – 6174, 6401 – 6500
Disposition details
Preserved	None, but 1 is rumored to still exist.
Disposition	124 scrapped except 6435 is rumored to be buried.
Number scrapped	124

The PRR J1 was a class of 125 2-10-4 or "Texas" type steam locomotives with 69 in driving wheels built between 1943 and 1944. The J1 had over 95,000 pounds-force of tractive effort, plus an additional 15,000 LBF if the booster engine was used.

PRR J1's 6425 and 6435 Doubleheader - Columbus, OH

History

When WWII expanded to the US, the PRR needed stronger engines to pull the heavier wartime freight, but the War Production Board prevented them from building a new locomotive. For this reason, the PRR borrowed 2 locomotives from 2 different railroads, a N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 and a C&O T1 2-10-4. After the tests, they decided to build their locomotives based on the C&O T1 Texas types.

The engines entered service in about 1942, with 125 built, the largest quantity of 2-10-4s ordered by any railroad. 60 of the 125 J1 were designated as J1a. In their later years, some worked on the lines west of Pittsburgh, mainly in Ohio. At that time, the PRR Q2 duplex locomotives were being trialed with the J1 and J1a, where they proved to be faster and better steaming, but only slightly more powerful than the J1's, which is why none of the Q2's are preserved.

Despite their large production volume and them coming to be known as the PRR's War Babies. 100 War Babies were confirmed to be scrapped in 1958 and the remaining 24 (possibly 25, not confirmed) were scrapped the next year. 1 locomotive No. 6435 is rumored to be buried in a previously PRR owned yard, now covered by a Norfolk Southern mainline and a road bridge, but this hasn't been confirmed yet. All that is left is the number plate from 6153 and a bell from one of the locomotives however its unknown which locomotive it came from.

Features

As with many of the Pennsylvania Railroad's steam locomotives, the J1 had its headlight above the smokebox. Also interesting to note is that the J1 featured a keystone number plate usually found on passenger locomotives, not a round one found on other PRR freight locomotives (aside from the M1 mountain type). With that, they also had a different firebox (radial-stay type) than the usual Belpaire Firebox on most PRR steam locomotives. Their tenders were not unique and were standard long haul tenders. The J1s also used Baker valve gear as opposed to the Walschaerts valve gear as seen on most PRR locomotives.

Gallery