Just curious.
Didn't a 0-6-0 end up being the PRR's last steam locomotive in revenue service?
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
SD70Dude Didn't a 0-6-0 end up being the PRR's last steam locomotive in revenue service?
Found this..
https://ctr.trains.com/photo-of-the-day/2018/08/last-gasp-of-prr-steam
It's been fun. But it isn't much fun anymore. Signing off for now.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any
Yeah, that's the one I was thinking of. For some reason I had it in my head that it was on a PRR branchline, not another railroad.
Awesome, so I am being period-appropriate with the 0-6-0!
The 0-4-0, I'll wait and see.
SD70DudeYeah, that's the one I was thinking of. For some reason I had it in my head that it was on a PRR branchline, not another railroad.
I think the P-RSL used PRR steam into the 1950s. We need Wayne for this one.
zugmannI think the P-RSL used PRR steam into the 1950s. We need Wayne for this one.
I'll have to hit the books on this one and get back to everyone. For simplicity's sake I'll have to make it the last 0-4-0's and 0-6-0's, obviously earlier models came and went as the steam era wore on.
Last PRR steam, I think in the Camden area, ran in late 1957. A short line, Union Transportation, leased that PRR B6 (yes, 0-6-0) and this as I recall was the last 'PRR type steam engine' to operate in connection with revenue service, in late 1959. Engine was serviced at 44th St. and it was going there that she made the last trip.
If I remember correctly PRR had a great many steam locomotives stockpiled, but the recession of '58 after the steel strike made them redundant for actual use.
OvermodLast PRR steam, I think in the Camden area, ran in late 1957. A short line, Union Transportation, leased that PRR B6 (yes, 0-6-0) and this as I recall was the last 'PRR type steam engine' to operate in connection with revenue service, in late 1959. Engine was serviced at 44th St. and it was going there that she made the last trip. If I remember correctly PRR had a great many steam locomotives stockpiled, but the recession of '58 after the steel strike made them redundant for actual use.
When you say last to operate for revenue service, would any still have been used for maintenance or yard work?
Shock ControlWhen you say last to operate for revenue service, would any still have been used for maintenance or yard work?
As noted, a great deal of steam power (I don't know what it was, but it's been carefully documented) was retained until at least 1959 against traffic increase or other prospective need. Note that not one engine of it was ever resuscitated.
The next step, undertaken within three years, was to weed out all the oddball first-generation diesel and electric power that was nonstandard. Reading between the lines, nearly anything 'steam' that might have survived that long would have been eliminated then.
OvermodThose were among the least satisfactory services for steam power in the first place; they would have been kept 'in steam' only while a diesel alternative still cost more overall. With line maintenance of the locomotives abolished, and formal fuel and water and ash-handling provisions removed, there would be increasingly little benefit, either in re-using costed-down assets or in operating savings, from using any steam power. As noted, a great deal of steam power (I don't know what it was, but it's been carefully documented) was retained until at least 1959 against traffic increase or other prospective need. Note that not one engine of it was ever resuscitated. The next step, undertaken within three years, was to weed out all the oddball first-generation diesel and electric power that was nonstandard. Reading between the lines, nearly anything 'steam' that might have survived that long would have been eliminated then.
As I'd assumed. Thank you!
IIRC, Union Transportation leased a PRR GE 44t to replace the steam switcher and it became the PRR's last 44t in service.
An article in TRAINS mentioned that the 44-tonners were purchased to replace the A-5's but were too light to be an effective replacement.
OK, I'm back.
The last 0-4-0 in PRR service, an A5s, was retired in 1956. Where it was at that time I don't know, but since the A series of switchers were intended for industrial switching service in areas with tight clearances and curves it most likely disappeared when an appropriate diesel replacement showed up.
The last 0-6-0 was the aforementioned Union Transportation engine, a B6sb tht hung around until 1959.
Now concerning the Pennsylvania-Reading Seashore line, they began dieselization in earnest in 1950, ( They began a slow start in 1947) essentially a reaction to a coal strike which disrupted their coal stocks to the point they were down to a one-day supply.* Relief stocks had to be brought in from PRR stockpiles in western Pennsylvania. Dieselization was complete by 1956, the last PRSL steamer being another B6sb switcher.
PRSL mainline steam were usually Reading Pacifics toward the end with PRR K4s's and E6s Atlantic types, but they were pretty much all gone by the end of 1955. Some PRR K4s's were kept as a reserve for a time, but went unused.
* They weren't the only Northeastern 'road pushed over the edge into dieselization by the post-war coal strikes and stoppages, but that's another story.
This is great! I can now run the PRR 0-4-0, 0-6-0, and F units together, in mid-century moderne splendor, without being anachronistic or ahistoric.
It's a Christmas dream come true!
Shock Control This is great! I can now run the PRR 0-4-0, 0-6-0, and F units together, in mid-century moderne splendor, without being anachronistic or ahistoric. It's a Christmas dream come true!
Hey man, it's your layout! Do what you want! If someone says anything about all that steam and diesel mixed together say it's a Christmas miracle!
I call my layout "The Lost Locomotive Line" because anything might show up!
Flintlock76Hey man, it's your layout! Do what you want! If someone says anything about all that steam and diesel mixed together say it's a Christmas miracle! I call my layout "The Lost Locomotive Line" because anything might show up!
Oh, of course. But these little victories are important!
Shock ControlThis is great! I can now run the PRR 0-4-0, 0-6-0, and F units together, in mid-century moderne splendor, without being anachronistic or ahistoric.
Including Tuesday, August 3rd, 1954.
Apologies if I missed the sarcasm.
OvermodYou mean like PRR itself could, for over a decade? Including Tuesday, August 3rd, 1954. Apologies if I missed the sarcasm.
No sarcasm was intended, hence my reason for posting the thread in the first place.
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