The Pennsylvania Railroad's class B6 was its most successful class of switcher, or as the PRR termed them "shifter". The PRR preferred the 0-6-0wheel arrangement for larger switchers, whereas on other railroads the 0-8-0 gained preference. The PRR generally used 2-8-0s when larger power was required.
The next version built was the B6sa, 55 of which were built at Altoona during 1913–1914. These had radial-stay fireboxes, common elsewhere but rare on the Pennsylvania, and they replaced the Stephenson gear with the more modern Walschaerts valve gear. Steam delivery pipes were outside, like all other PRR modern power. All were built superheated.
Finally, during 1916–1920, 238 of class B6sb were built. These were the final, definitive type, and had a Belpaire firebox, but were otherwise little changed from the B6sa. The final 97 locomotives had piston valves mounted outboard of the cylinders, instead of inbound as previously built, giving the cylinder assemblies an outward cant at the top, rather than inward.
All B6sa and B6sb locomotives were retrofitted with power reverse to make the frequent back-and-forth of switching quicker and easier.
The last PRR locomotive in active service was #5244, leased to Union Transportation of New Egypt, New Jersey until July 1959. This was considered quite an achievement considering the Pennsylvania Railroad's extensive steam program.
In 1939, toy train manufacturer Lionel introduced their version of Pennsy's B6 in several variations including a scale version (scale couplers and smaller flanges to operate on special track) along with six versions of what would later become known as "semi-scale."[2]
- B6sa #60 is on a siding in Hockessin, Delaware, along the Wilmington and Western Railroad. It has a larger tender, from a 2-8-0 Consolidation, but it is intact, albeit in poor condition. In 2019–2020, it was donated to the Historic Red Clay Valley Inc., and the locomotive remains on a siding near Mt. Cuba.
Staufer, Alvin F.; Pennypacker, Bert (1962). Pennsy Power: Steam and Electric Locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 1900-1957. Research by Martin Flattley. Carollton, Ohio: Alvin F. Staufer. ISBN978-0-9445-1304-0.
External links
Pennsylvania Railroad 1670 & 5741 (Museum Tour), 07-03-2014 on YouTube
Media related to Pennsylvania Railroad B6 at Wikimedia Commons
March 24, 2023
pennsylvania, railroad, class, pennsylvania, railroad, class, most, successful, class, switcher, termed, them, shifter, preferred, wheel, arrangement, larger, switchers, whereas, other, railroads, gained, preference, generally, used, when, larger, power, requi. The Pennsylvania Railroad s class B6 was its most successful class of switcher or as the PRR termed them shifter The PRR preferred the 0 6 0 wheel arrangement for larger switchers whereas on other railroads the 0 8 0 gained preference The PRR generally used 2 8 0s when larger power was required Pennsylvania Railroad B6PRR No 1670 at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in 2010Type and originPower typeSteamBuilderAltoona Works Baldwin LimaBuild date1902 1912 B6 1912 1913 B6sa 1916 1920 B6sb Total producedB6 79 B6sa 55 B6sb 238SpecificationsConfiguration Whyte0 6 0 UICC B6 Ch B6s B6sa B6sb Gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gaugeDriver dia 56 in 1 422 m Wheelbaselocomotive 11 ft 6 in 3 51 m Fuel typeCoalBoiler pressure205 psi 1 41 MPa CylindersTwoCylinder size22 in 24 in 559 mm 610 mm Valve gearB6 Stephenson B6sa B6sb WalschaertsValve typePiston valvesPerformance figuresTractive effort36 144 lbf 160 8 kN CareerRetired1949 1959PreservedNos 60 B6sa and 1670 B6sb DispositionTwo preserved remainder scrapped Contents 1 History 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditAltoona Works constructed the prototype B6 in 1902 The B6 had the Pennsylvania s trademark square shouldered Belpaire firebox and 56 inch 1 422 m drivers They were constructed as saturated steam engines rebuilt with superheaters later as class B6s and had Piston valves and Stephenson valve gear A total of 79 were built by Baldwin and Lima in addition to Altoona between 1902 and 1913 1 The next version built was the B6sa 55 of which were built at Altoona during 1913 1914 These had radial stay fireboxes common elsewhere but rare on the Pennsylvania and they replaced the Stephenson gear with the more modern Walschaerts valve gear Steam delivery pipes were outside like all other PRR modern power All were built superheated Finally during 1916 1920 238 of class B6sb were built These were the final definitive type and had a Belpaire firebox but were otherwise little changed from the B6sa The final 97 locomotives had piston valves mounted outboard of the cylinders instead of inbound as previously built giving the cylinder assemblies an outward cant at the top rather than inward All B6sa and B6sb locomotives were retrofitted with power reverse to make the frequent back and forth of switching quicker and easier The last PRR locomotive in active service was 5244 leased to Union Transportation of New Egypt New Jersey until July 1959 This was considered quite an achievement considering the Pennsylvania Railroad s extensive steam program In 1939 toy train manufacturer Lionel introduced their version of Pennsy s B6 in several variations including a scale version scale couplers and smaller flanges to operate on special track along with six versions of what would later become known as semi scale 2 Two B6 survive B6sb 1670 was saved in the PRR s historic collection at Northumberland Pennsylvania and was donated to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania along with the majority of that collection B6sa 60 is on a siding in Hockessin Delaware along the Wilmington and Western Railroad It has a larger tender from a 2 8 0 Consolidation but it is intact albeit in poor condition In 2019 2020 it was donated to the Historic Red Clay Valley Inc and the locomotive remains on a siding near Mt Cuba Notes Edit Staufer amp Pennypacker 1962 p 16 Home steamswitcher com References EditStaufer Alvin F Pennypacker Bert 1962 Pennsy Power Steam and Electric Locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad 1900 1957 Research by Martin Flattley Carollton Ohio Alvin F Staufer ISBN 978 0 9445 1304 0 External links EditPennsylvania Railroad 1670 amp 5741 Museum Tour 07 03 2014 on YouTube Media related to Pennsylvania Railroad B6 at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pennsylvania Railroad class B6 amp oldid 1133116994, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
