The Potomac Electric Power Company No. 43 is an 0-4-0F steam locomotive built by the Heisler Locomotive Works of Erie, PA, in 1938. It worked for PEPCO its whole life, first at the Buzzard Point Power Station in Washington DC, and then at the Potomac River Power Station in Alexandria, VA.
When fully charged, #43 operated at 250 psi. However, the continuing vaporisation caused the water temperature to reduce until it dropped below a level at which it would vaporise at sufficient pressure to be used in the cylinders.
It was retired in 1978 because it lacked the power to handle the 70-100 ton coal hoppers coming into use at that time.
The Potomac Electric Power Company donated this 0-4-0F (the "F" stands for fireless) to the Smithsonian in 1979, one year later where it used to be on public display. It remained there for 30 years until the Smithsonian gave it to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum, in Baltimore, MD., where it resides today.
Trivia[]
- No. 43 alone could run for thirty miles fully charged, but just 3.1 miles when hauling four fully loaded 40 ton coal hoppers.