The Pennsylvania Railroad's class I1ssteam locomotives were the largest class of 2-10-0 "Decapods" in the United States. From 1916 to 1923, 598 locomotives were produced (123 at Altoona Works and 475 at Baldwin Locomotive Works). They were the dominant freight locomotive on the system until World War II and remained in service until 1957. Nicknames for the type included Decs and Hippos, the latter due to their large boiler.
The I1s design was much larger than the 2-10-0 design that preceded it, taking advantage of the PRR's heavy trackage and high allowed axle load, with a wide, free-steaming boiler. Large cylinders enabled the I1s to apply that power to the rails. However, the large boiler limited the size of the driving wheels, which made it impossible to mount counterweights large enough to balance the piston thrusts. As a result, they were hard riding at anything but low speeds, prone to slipping, and unpopular with crews.[1] The locomotives were known for being very powerful, with one author describing them as "the holy terror of the PRR".
Subclass I1sa increased maximum steam cut-off to admit steam for 78% of the piston stroke (rather than the original 50%), boosting low speed tractive effort from 90,000 to 96,000 pounds-force (400 to 430 kN). There was no obvious external difference, except for a revised builders' plate and combination lever. The I1s locomotives were converted to I1sa during major overhauls; eventually, 489 were converted while 109 remained as-built.
Of the 598 class I1 locomotives built for the Pennsylvania Railroad, only one (#4483) survived the scrapper's torch. PRR 4483 was built in May 1923 and assigned to drag freight service.[2] In February 1931, it was converted to an I1sa, increasing its tractive effort, and assigned to the Eastern Region, Susquehanna Division and Northern Region. On 1 November 1944, PRR 4483 was reassigned to the Eastern Region, Central PA Division and Williamsport Division and equipped with a cab signal, whistle and acknowledger. In the early 1950s, it was again reassigned to the PRR Ebenezer, often seen hauling coal drags up the Elmira Branch to the coal unloading docks in Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario, New York.
On 7 August 1957, 4483 was retired.[3][4] In 1959, PRR 4483 was moved to the roundhouse in Northumberland, Pennsylvania.[5] In 1963, the engine was purchased by the Westinghouse Air Brake Company to display on the front lawn of their headquarters in Wilmerding, Pennsylvania.[3][6] The company had sought a railroad-themed display for its headquarters to commemorate its heritage of supplying air brakes to America's railroads. The locomotive saw little maintenance during this period and its condition deteriorated significantly, although the boiler's asbestos cladding was removed.[7] By 1982, after the company grew tired of the locomotive on its front lawn, the Western New York Railway Historical Society acquired PRR 4483 and moved it to Hamburg, New York, where it now resides.[7] Currently, the organization hopes to move the locomotive to the Heritage Discovery Center in Buffalo, New York to sit on public display.[7]
^Springirth, Kenneth C. (2017). Remembering the Pennsylvania Railroad. Fonthill Media. ISBN978-1-62545-071-5.
^Weiser, Eugene (2013). The Pennsylvania Railroad: A Brief Look in Time. Seaford, DE: Dragonwick Publishing. p. 135. ISBN9781300640783.
^Cupper, Dan (2002). Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Trail of History Guide. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. p. 22. ISBN0-8117-2956-7.
^ abc"PRR #4483". Western New York Railway Historical Society. February 7, 2017. from the original on October 17, 2018. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
External linksEdit
Photo Gallery and Further History of #4483
Audio of I1sa starting a heavy coal train, 1949
Info and Photos on modeling an N Scale PRR I1s
Diagram
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pennsylvania Railroad I1s.
August 30, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Pennsylvania Railroad I1 class news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Pennsylvania Railroad s class I1s steam locomotives were the largest class of 2 10 0 Decapods in the United States From 1916 to 1923 598 locomotives were produced 123 at Altoona Works and 475 at Baldwin Locomotive Works They were the dominant freight locomotive on the system until World War II and remained in service until 1957 Nicknames for the type included Decs and Hippos the latter due to their large boiler Pennsylvania Railroad I1sPRR I1s prepares to leave the docks at Cleveland Ohio with a trainload of iron ore in May 1943 Type and originPower typeSteamBuilderPennsylvania Railroad s Altoona Shops 123 Baldwin Locomotive Works 475 Build date1916 1923Total produced598SpecificationsConfiguration Whyte2 10 0Gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm Leading dia 33 in 838 mm Driver dia 62 in 1 575 mm Height15 ft 4 57 m Axle load72 600 lb 32 900 kilograms 32 9 metric tons Adhesive weight352 500 lb 159 900 kilograms 159 9 metric tons Loco weight386 100 lb 175 100 kilograms 175 1 metric tons Tender weight204 700 lb 92 900 kilograms 92 9 metric tons Total weight590 800 lb 268 000 kilograms 268 0 metric tons Fuel capacity18 7 t 18 4 long tons 20 6 short tons Water cap 10 300 US gal 39 000 L 8 600 imp gal Fuel consumption7 t 6 9 long tons 7 7 short tons of coal per hourFirebox Firegrate area69 9 sq ft 6 49 m2 Boiler93 in 2 362 mm Boiler pressure250 psi 1 7 MPa Feedwater heaterWorthington BLCylinders2Cylinder size30 1 2 in 32 in 775 mm 813 mm bore strokeValve gearWalschaertsPerformance figuresMaximum speed50 mph 80 km h Tractive effortI1s 96 000 lbf 430 kN I1sa 102 027 lbf 453 84 kN 93 625 lbf 416 46 kN 78 cutoffCareerOperatorsPennsylvania RailroadNicknamesHipposRetired1950 1957PreservedOne 4483DispositionPRR 4483 on display remainder scrappedThe I1s design was much larger than the 2 10 0 design that preceded it taking advantage of the PRR s heavy trackage and high allowed axle load with a wide free steaming boiler Large cylinders enabled the I1s to apply that power to the rails However the large boiler limited the size of the driving wheels which made it impossible to mount counterweights large enough to balance the piston thrusts As a result they were hard riding at anything but low speeds prone to slipping and unpopular with crews 1 The locomotives were known for being very powerful with one author describing them as the holy terror of the PRR Subclass I1sa increased maximum steam cut off to admit steam for 78 of the piston stroke rather than the original 50 boosting low speed tractive effort from 90 000 to 96 000 pounds force 400 to 430 kN There was no obvious external difference except for a revised builders plate and combination lever The I1s locomotives were converted to I1sa during major overhauls eventually 489 were converted while 109 remained as built Contents 1 Preservation 2 Accidents and Incidents 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksPreservation EditOf the 598 class I1 locomotives built for the Pennsylvania Railroad only one 4483 survived the scrapper s torch PRR 4483 was built in May 1923 and assigned to drag freight service 2 In February 1931 it was converted to an I1sa increasing its tractive effort and assigned to the Eastern Region Susquehanna Division and Northern Region On 1 November 1944 PRR 4483 was reassigned to the Eastern Region Central PA Division and Williamsport Division and equipped with a cab signal whistle and acknowledger In the early 1950s it was again reassigned to the PRR Ebenezer often seen hauling coal drags up the Elmira Branch to the coal unloading docks in Sodus Bay on Lake Ontario New York On 7 August 1957 4483 was retired 3 4 In 1959 PRR 4483 was moved to the roundhouse in Northumberland Pennsylvania 5 In 1963 the engine was purchased by the Westinghouse Air Brake Company to display on the front lawn of their headquarters in Wilmerding Pennsylvania 3 6 The company had sought a railroad themed display for its headquarters to commemorate its heritage of supplying air brakes to America s railroads The locomotive saw little maintenance during this period and its condition deteriorated significantly although the boiler s asbestos cladding was removed 7 By 1982 after the company grew tired of the locomotive on its front lawn the Western New York Railway Historical Society acquired PRR 4483 and moved it to Hamburg New York where it now resides 7 Currently the organization hopes to move the locomotive to the Heritage Discovery Center in Buffalo New York to sit on public display 7 Accidents and Incidents EditOn July 31 1940 two I1sa 2 10 0s were travelling with 74 freight cars from Columbus to Cleveland departed Arlington in Akron heading north when they collided with a Pennsylvania Railroad class GEW275 Doodlebug No 4648 Both I1sa 2 10 0s were repaired after the accident but would be scrapped when the Pennsylvania Railroad dieselized Gallery Edit PRR I1s 4300 in its Baldwin Locomotive Works builders photo taken in 1922 PRR I1sa 4483 currently being cosmetically restored at Hamburg New York Tender view of 4483 4258 with 210F75a Coast to Coast long haul tender References Edit PRR I1s 4483 www rgusrail com Springirth Kenneth C 2017 Remembering the Pennsylvania Railroad Fonthill Media ISBN 978 1 62545 071 5 a b PRR 4483 www trainweb org Springirth Kenneth C 2017 Remembering the Pennsylvania Railroad Fonthill Media ISBN 978 1 62545 071 5 Weiser Eugene 2013 The Pennsylvania Railroad A Brief Look in Time Seaford DE Dragonwick Publishing p 135 ISBN 9781300640783 Cupper Dan 2002 Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Trail of History Guide Mechanicsburg PA Stackpole Books Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission p 22 ISBN 0 8117 2956 7 a b c PRR 4483 Western New York Railway Historical Society February 7 2017 Archived from the original on October 17 2018 Retrieved September 15 2019 External links EditPhoto Gallery and Further History of 4483 Audio of I1sa starting a heavy coal train 1949 Info and Photos on modeling an N Scale PRR I1s Diagram Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pennsylvania Railroad I1s Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pennsylvania Railroad I1 class amp oldid 1172396298, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
