Un Rebuilt Pennsylvania Railroad #9859 as built new, ALCO-Brooks, 1919.
The PRR N2s were a fleet of 130 Heavy 2-10-2 Steam Locomotives built during and after World War I for use on the Pennsylvania Railroad under the design aspects of the United States Railroad Administration.
History and Design[]
During 1917 as the war raged on in Europe, the United States Railroad Administration controlled over 90% of America's railroads as the Pennsylvania Railroad was one of the many, as the Pennsy had several locomotive classes under construction at the time, the USRA ordered the Pennsy to take some of the Government designed Steam Locomotives of the USRA for modern steam power to fulfil the power shortage of heavier locomotives. This time after the Pennsy selected the famed I-1s which debuted a year before in 1916, the Pennsylvania Railroad decided to stay with experimenting with ten-driver locomotives. After a group of Heavy N1s designed by the Pennsy arrived the next year during 1918, the PRR acquired one hundred and thirty giant Heavy 2-10-2s based on the USRA Heavy Santa Fe Design. When constructed by the American Locomotive Company and the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1919, these locomotives were too late to help out with the Great War as it ended in November 1918. But the Pennsy kept them as they were designed for very heavy drag services with 63" drivers, large 30" x 32" cylinders, driven with a massive radial-stay boiler capable of 190 Lbs. of PSI. Having a designed maximum speed of 35 miles per hour, they gave an impressive 74,000 Lbs. of tractive effort, although not as much as the giant I-1 class Decapods. All of them were built with center-positioned headlights with bell hanging over the smokebox door, although this look didn't stay for too long as the Pennsy was interested in modifying them after the dissolve of the USRA Control by 1920.
Service Lives and Rebuilds to "Pennsy" Practices[]
PRR #8941 as N2sa around the 1940s-1950s Era.
The N2s along with the slightly larger and older N1s were put to work in hauling Ore from the great lakes areas on the Pennsylvania Railroad along with the major tasks of moving heavy coal trains as they were well-suited to do. After the United States Railroad Administration lost control of the major railroads by 1920, the Pennsy had its power on what to do with the odd N2s as they weren't designed by the Railroad itself. After a few years passed the PRR began rebuilding the units, not only improving their appearance, but improving their boiler capacities. Starting in 1923, the PRR rebuilt the first few and over a couple years converted all of them to N2sa's. When rebuilding the units, the Pennsy removed their center position headlights and moved them higher like all other Pennsy engines. The N2s also gained new number plates in place of where the headlight originally was. The biggest thing changed of these locomotives was they received Superheaters (N2sa) and the original radial-stay boilers were cut and new square-shoulder sections were mounted on top of the boiler making larger heating space converting it to a Belpaire Boiler like most Pennsy Engines. They also received doghouses on their tenders along with some other updated parts. They looked like whole new engines as they looked more like the other Locomotives on home grounds although they were still somewhat noticeable as older USRAs. The New N2sa's were good locomotives to use on their heavy freight assignments all over the Pennsy lines east, although they're boiler pressure or cylinders never changed, they were satisfying for what a load they can move, they also did a good job on pusher service. For being a bigger design in its era, the N2sa's were only limited to 35 mph max as that was the design's only flaw, and when faster locomotives were needed the I-1sa's took over.
World War II and later Retirement[]
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the US entered World War II as the Pennsylvania Railroad joined forces with other railroads to help out. The Pennsy N2s were still in decent shape as they were used along with the Earlier N1s in Freight services and by 1942 all of the N2sa's were in full use, the Railroad ordered new powerful locomotives to help out. In 1942-1944 the Pennsy built 125 2-10-4 "Texas" type engines to replace the older slower engines with limited speeds like the N classes. After the faster J1s were in prime wartime freight service, the Ns were placed into secondary roles still in coal services, after World War II ended in 1945, the Ns were considered to be soon replaced as retirements along with scrapping began in 1947 as the Pennsy ordered faster multiple unit diesel sets to replace them. Many lasted through thirty years of age as most were retired in 1950, with the last out of steam by December 1953. The last units were scrapped by 1954 as the Pennsy retired all steam operations in October 1957, none were preserved.
Stock List[]
| Number(s) | Builder and Year | Rebuilt | Retirement and Scrapping | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7036 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | February 1949 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 7082 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | November 1949 | |
| 7104 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7123 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 7/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | June 1949 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 7126 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1949 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 7139 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | November 1949 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 7181 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 7190 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | August 1953 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 7212 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 8/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | August 1953 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 7263 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1952 | |
| 7265 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7268 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1950 | |
| 7269 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | May 1949 | |
| 7276 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | February 1949 | Had Southern valve gear, |
| 7277 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | November 1949 | |
| 7281 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | September 1949 | |
| 7282 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1949 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 7283 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | August 1948 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7284 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | May 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7285 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | |
| 7286 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | September 1949 | |
| 7326 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | |
| 7343 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 9/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | September 1949 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 7635 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 11/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7909 (Was renumbered from #7009 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7910 (Was renumbered from #7010 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7916 (Was renumbered from #7016 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | February 1949 | |
| 7917 (Was renumbered from #7034 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7918 (Was renumbered from #7044 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | June 1949 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7921 (Was renumbered from #7079 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | |
| 7925 (Was renumbered from #7081 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7927 (Was renumbered from #7088 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 3/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | February 1949 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7930 (Was renumbered from #7098 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | |
| 7937 (Was renumbered from #7099 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7939 (Was renumbered from #7103 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | August 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7960 (Was renumbered from #7557 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 3/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | February 1949 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7961 (Was renumbered from #7558 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 3/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 7962 (Was renumbered from #7559 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear and at some point, had a 6-axle long-haul tender equipped. |
| 8008 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | April 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8039 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | |
| 8044 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | May 1952 | |
| 8070 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8095 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8098 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | May 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8105 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8110 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown, before 1954. | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8140 (Was renumbered from #7560 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8144 (Was renumbered from #7561 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 3/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8147 (Was renumbered from #7562 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | February 1949 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8149 (Was renumbered from #7794 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | August 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8159 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 4/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1948 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8162 (Was renumbered from #7795 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | August 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8164 (Was renumbered from #7796 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8184 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 7/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | May 1952 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 8196 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | September 1949 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 8206 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8208 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1949 | |
| 8215 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | December 1948 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8223 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8227 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | September 1949 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 8231 (Was renumbered from #7800 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | February 1949 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8241 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 4/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8253 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8255 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | August 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8258 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1949 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8263 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | November 1953 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 8266 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8268 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 4/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | February 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8299 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8316 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | October 1949 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 8337 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 7/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | November 1949 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 8360 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 8371 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | August 1952 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 8376 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8379 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 7/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1952 | Had Southern valve gear. |
| 8389 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8393 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1948 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8408 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8425 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1950 | |
| 8794 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8895 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8896 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | December 1948 | |
| 8897 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1949 | |
| 8901 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear, scrapped by 1954. |
| 8902 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Scrapped by 1954. |
| 8903 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8904 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8905 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Scrapped by 1954. |
| 8906 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear, scrapped by 1954. |
| 8909 | Baldwin Locomotive Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Scrapped by 1954. |
| 8912 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8914 (Ren. #9925 in 1950) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 5/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | May 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8915 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8916 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Scrapped by 1954. |
| 8917 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Scrapped by 1954. |
| 8918 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | November 1948 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8919 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8920 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8921 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1950 | |
| 8922 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Scrapped by 1954. |
| 8928 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | October 1949 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8929 (Ren. #9931 by 1951) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 5/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | August 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8940 (Was renumbered from USRA #20001 in 1921) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 6/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1952 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8941 (Was renumbered from USRA #20002 in 1921) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 6/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1949 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8942 (Was renumbered from USRA #20003 in 1921) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 6/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | February 1949 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8943 (Was renumbered from USRA #20004 in 1921) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 6/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | April 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 8944 (Was renumbered from USRA #20005 in 1921) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 6/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | February 1949 | |
| 8944 (Was renumbered from #7107 before it was delivered) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | |
| 8945 (Was renumbered from USRA #20039 in 1921) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | March 1949 | |
| 8946 (Was renumbered from USRA #20040 in 1921) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | April 1949 | |
| 8947 (Was renumbered from USRA #20041 in 1921, renumbered to #9934 in 1951) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Southern valve gear, scrapped by 1954. |
| 8948 (Was renumbered from USRA #20042 in 1921, renumbered to #9936 in 1951) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Scrapped by 1954. |
| 8949 (Was renumbered from USRA #20043 in 1921, renumbered to #9938 in 1951) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Southern valve gear, scrapped by 1954. |
| 9731 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Scrapped by 1954. |
| 9733 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 9737 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | September 1949 | |
| 9738 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 3/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Scrapped by 1954. |
| 9739 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear, scrapped by 1954. |
| 9838 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 5/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear, scrapped by 1954. |
| 9839 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear, scrapped by 1954. |
| 9845 (Ren. #8016 in 1951) | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | July 1953 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 9849 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear, scrapped by 1954. |
| 9851 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear, scrapped by 1954. |
| 9853 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 9854 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 9855 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | October 1949 | |
| 9856 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 5/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear, scrapped by 1954. |
| 9857 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 5/1919. | 1920s to N2sa | January 1950 | Had Walscherts valve gear. |
| 9858 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Scrapped by 1954. |
| 9859 | ALCO-Brooks Works, 1919. | 1920s to N2sa | Unknown | Had Walscherts valve gear, scrapped by 1954. |
Trivia[]
- The N2 series was the only Steam Locomotive design on the Pennsylvania Railroad to feature Southern valve gear, although some were built with Walscherts.
- Despite being almost as heavy as the I-1sa class Decapods, the N2s were less powerful as they weren't popular with PRR crews.
- The N2s were one of few USRA designed Steam locomotives accepted by the PRR during the great War.
- Although the USRA Heavy Santa Fe type was selected by only a few railroads like the ERIE, the Pennsy had the most numerous number of the type than any other railroad.