PRR J1a's in central PA.

[rjake4454]

Does anybody have pictures of this loco with the train phone antenna on the tender around the mountainous regions of central pennsylvania? 

I have noticed that most photos of the J1's were taken in the flat lands of Ohio, and the midwest. And in many pictures, the train phone antenna is nonexistent.

Any help? Thanks. 

 

[selector]

Does Horseshoe Curve count?

 http://prrsteam.mrdek.com/j_6153.html

-Crandell

[rjake4454]

selector

Does Horseshoe Curve count?

 http://prrsteam.mrdek.com/j_6153.html

-Crandell

 

Sure. Nice pic, and pulling a coal drag too.

Were these engines ever roaming east of Altoona?

It seems that pics of the J1's in the mountains are so scarce, which I find odd considering that these engines looked like the M1 mountains types on steroids. You just picture the Pennsy Texas chugging through the beautiful mountains and hillsides of central PA.

I think the J1/J1a's were the most iconic pennsy freight engine ever built in my opinion. The streamlined cab window, the doghouse and trainphone antenna on the long distance tender, that beautiful brunswick green/almost black color. The pennsy style class lights and marker lamps.

This is my favorite steam engine of all time. Its so sad that none were saved. Last year when I visited strasburg, I saw an M1 mountain being restored outside, the sight of that monster alone is a memory I will never forget. Awe inspiring, if only there was J1 beside it..

 

[K4sPRR]

When the J's were built during WWII the PRR found out they were too big to negotiate the tight curves of the mountain area's, they would bump into the train on the other track(s).  This was disappointing as they were built for mountain use.  They sent the newly built locomotives to the west end of the system, Ohio, Indiana, etc., that allowed them to have more of the slow and bumpy I1's return east and work the mountain until the railroad solved the problem and the J's were then brought back to do what they were built for. 

They served their last assignment working out of Columbus OH during a locomotive power shortage in 1956 along with leased ATSF Texas type locomotives.  That was the time photographers were scrambling to get steam pictures, so many photo's seen today are from that area.  In books about PRR power you can find photo's of the J's on the mountain territory.  In Pennsy Power 1, there is a photo with the trainphone antenna.

They were huge and impressive, built from the design of the C&O T-1, the crews thought highly of them.  I am fortunate to have in my collection the keystone number plate from  J1 number 6472.  Too bad the rest of the locomotive isn't around for people to see.   

[selector]

 I agree with your sentiments about the J1.  It was the fifth engine I purchased in HO scale, and it has a special place as my favourite.  Nice lines.  There is video on youtube showing the J1's and the AT&SF Texas types working out of Sandusky.  Dubbed stock sounds, but they did a pretty good job of getting the chuff rates and brake scrubbing sounds down most of the time.

-Crandell

[Last Chance]

 Sunbury to Harrisburg comes to mind in PA. If they ran the big 2-10-0's through, they probably stuffed a J1 in there too from time to time.

 

Keep in mind that engines that big tended to roll the light weight rails underneath requiring rerailing at times away from the big mainlines.

 

I recall the Strasburg Mountain M Class 4-8-2 in the field like 40 years ago when I first saw the thing, wadda monster. I do hope they are able to properly restore that because the years have not been kind to it.

[Utley26]

Don Ball's book (Pennsylvania Railroad: 1940's - 1950's) has several excellent photos of J1's in the hills of Pennsylvania, mostly on or around Horseshoe Curve.  Several did not have antennas that I can tell.  None of the photos depict J1's east of Altoona.

This book is a must-have if you don't already own it, available on Amazon. 

 

[JimValle]

I own a slew of PRR books and I've never seen a picture of a J1 East of Altoona.  The Middle Division ( Altoona to Harrisburg ) was essentially water level and a large stable of M1s held most of the freight assignments there until the end of steam.  Trainphone gear was intened for engines that worked on the four track mainline and from Pittsburgh to Chicago as this was the only part of the system that had trainphone coverage.  I'd like to know why so few J1s were trainphone equipped.  In the event, not many K4s had them either.

[alcosforever]

Heron film did a great job on these working in ohio just as you mentioned a must see film for all of you who love this engine