Pennsylvania Railroad 1361

Pennsylvania Railroad 1361 is a 4-6-2 "Pacific"-type steam locomotive built in 1918 by the Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona Works. Along with the only other surviving K4s locomotive, PRR 3750, it was designated the official state steam locomotive in 1987 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Pennsylvania Railroad 1361
PRR No. 1361 on display at Horseshoe Curve
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
BuilderAltoona Works
Serial number3475
Build dateMay 18, 1918
Rebuild date1986–1987
Specifications
Configuration:
  Whyte4-6-2
Gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Leading dia.36 in (914 mm)
Driver dia.80 in (2,032 mm)
Trailing dia.50 in (1,270 mm)
Wheelbase13 ft 10 in (4.2 m) between driving axles
Length83 ft 6 in (25.5 m)
Axle load66,500 lb (30,200 kg; 30.2 t)
Adhesive weight199,500 lb (90,500 kg; 90.5 t)
Loco weight304,500 lb (138,100 kg; 138.1 t)
Tender weight212,725 lb (96,490 kg; 96.490 t)
Total weight517,225 lb (234,609 kg; 234.609 t)
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity22 short tons (20 t)[1]
Water cap.11,300 US gallons (43,000 l)[1]
Firebox:
  Firegrate area
69.89 sq ft (6.49 m2)[2]
Boiler pressure205 psi (1,413 kPa)[2]
Heating surface4,041 square feet (375 m2)[1]
Cylinder size27 in × 28 in (686 mm × 711 mm)[2]
Valve gearWalschaert
Valve typePiston valves
Performance figures
Tractive effort44,460 lbf (197,770 N)[2]
Factor of adh.4.54
Career
OperatorsPennsylvania Railroad
ClassK4s
Numbers
  • PRR 1361
Nicknames"Spirit of Altoona"
DeliveredMay 18, 1918
Retired1956 (revenue service)
1988 (excursion service)
PreservedJune 8, 1957
RestoredApril 12, 1987
Current ownerRailroaders Memorial Museum
DispositionUndergoing restoration to operating condition at the Railroaders Memorial Museum, based in Altoona, Pennsylvania

No. 1361 hauled mainline passenger and mail trains until it was retired from revenue service in 1956. It was restored to operating condition for excursion service in 1987, but mechanical problems sidelined it after a year and a half of operation. The engine is currently owned by the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, Pennsylvania, which is currently attempting to return the locomotive to operating condition.

History

The K4s is considered the Pennsylvania Railroad's most famous class of steam locomotives, with a total of 425 engines produced from 1917 to 1928, including the prototype that was built in 1914.[3] The last K4s stayed in service until they were replaced by diesel locomotives in the late 1950s.

1361 was completed on May 18, 1918, at the Altoona Works.[4] The engine ran an estimated 2.5 million miles (4.02 million kilometers) over its career.[5]

After 38 years of service, it was retired from revenue in 1956.[4]On June 8, 1957, the engine was placed on exhibit at the famed Horseshoe Curve outside of Altoona, Pennsylvania.[4]

No. 1361 at Horseshoe Curve before it was removed for restoration in 1985

On September 16, 1985, the engine was moved to the Altoona Works for restoration.[4] It was replaced at the curve with the EMD GP9 diesel locomotive 7048, painted in Pennsylvania Railroad colors.

On April 12, 1987, the locomotive was fired for the first time following the restoration.[4] On December 18, 1987, the Pennsylvania General Assembly designated 1361 and 3750 the official state steam locomotives; the same bill designated the GG1 4859 the state electric locomotive.[6]

In 1988, while the locomotive was hauling an excursion train, it suffered a main bearing and drive axle catastrophic failure. It was withdrawn from excursion service indefinitely and was once again retired indefinitely.[7][4]

The engine was dismantled in 1996 and moved to the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It was to be restored through a partnership between Steamtown, the University of Scranton, and the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona.[5] After an initial grant of $420,000, Governor of Pennsylvania Tom Ridge released an additional $600,000 in March 2000.[5] The restoration progressed slowly, as "every broken pin and bolt had to be replaced with handmade duplicates."[5] Scheduled completion dates were repeatedly pushed back, and after 13 years, the restoration had cost $1.7 million.[1][8]

No. 1361 disassembled at the Railroaders Memorial Museum in 2015.

Most of the smaller components of 1361 were inventoried and returned to Altoona in 2007 when the museum stopped paying out funding until the rest of the locomotive, consisting mostly of the boiler, was returned to the museum.[9]

In April 2010, plans to restore 1361 were canceled.[8] Instead of rebuilding it and placing it back into excursion service, the museum decided to restore 1361 as a "semi-static display."[8] This would allow the locomotive to be fired and produce enough steam pressure to operate at low speeds around museum property and blow the whistle.[8] But even these plans for "semi-static" restoration were canceled, as the 1918 boiler would have needed significant reconstruction to meet specifications required by the Federal Railroad Administration.

By 2013, the engine had been entirely removed from Scranton. The frame, tender, and various small components were stored in Altoona, while the boiler was stored at the East Broad Top Railroad.[10] By early 2015, the museum had completed construction of its "quarter-roundhouse" and placed the 1361's tender, frame and other components inside.[11] In late July 2015, the 1361's boiler was moved to Altoona and placed in the roundhouse with the remainder of the engine.[12]

In May 2018, restoration hopes were renewed when Bennett Levin and Wick Moorman announced the creation of a private restoration fund. Restoration cost was estimated at $750,000. The locomotive requires boiler patches, firebox patches and a new crown sheet. Among other things, the locomotive will have PRR-style Timken rolling-element bearings built from designs from the 1940s. By 2018, new parts for the 1361 had been fabricated and were ready for installation. Levin and Moorman also announced that there are several ex-PRR P70 and B60 cars to be used for a statewide demonstration train.[13]

As of February 2019, the group was designing a new boiler that would meet FRA and mechanical engineering standards.[14]

In October 2019, the engine's tender neared complete restoration. Trucks were upgraded to roller bearings, and its water scoop was restored for demonstration purposes.[15]

On June 24, 2021, the museum announced that it had hired the contracting firm FMW Solutions to complete the restoration. Total costs of the restoration (both the second and third attempts) are estimated to be $2.6 million USD.[16] On November 23, 2021, the Museum announced that an entire, new boiler would be installed in #1361, as part of FMW Solutions' total renovation.[17]

References

  1. Kaufman, Dirk W (March 18, 2007). "Altoona awaits refurbished steam locomotive". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  2. Stauffer 1962, p. 163.
  3. Stauffer 1962, p. 159.
  4. "History & Technology". The Railroaders Memorial Museum. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  5. Conway, Rachael (July 16, 2000). "Train repair picks up steam". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. B2.
  6. "Act of Dec. 18, 1987, P.L. 421, No. 89 Cl. 71 - OFFICIAL STATE LOCOMOTIVES - DESIGNATION". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  7. "New effort will focus on restoration of famed Pennsylvania Railroad K4s No. 1361 | Trains Magazine". Trains. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  8. Kibler, William (April 14, 2010). "Official: Working K-4 plans derailed". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  9. Kibler, William (May 18, 2008). "K-4 to return in pieces". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  10. "RailPictures.Net Photo: PRR 1361 Pennsylvania Railroad Steam 4-6-2 at Rockhill, Pennsylvania by Dennis A. Livesey". www.railpictures.net. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  11. "Altoona museum moves in to new roundhouse - Trains Magazine". Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  12. "RailPictures.Net Photo: PRR 1361 Pennsylvania Railroad Steam 4-6-2 at Altoona, Pennsylvania by Brandon Fiume". www.railpictures.net. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  13. "New effort will focus on restoration of famed Pennsylvania Railroad K4s No. 1361 - Trains Magazine". Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  14. Kibler, William (February 3, 2019). "Getting up to steam - Group planning new boiler for K4". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  15. Schmidt, Brian (15 October 2019). "Pennsylvania tour: PRR 1361". Trains Magazine. Kalmbach Media. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  16. "Museum Hires Contractor to Lead Pennsylvania K4 Restoration". White River Productions. June 24, 2021.
  17. Cupper, Dan (November 23, 2021). "Firebox replacement plans advance for PRR K4s restoration project". Trains. Retrieved 2022-04-13.

Sources

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