PRR 7002
Encyclopedia
PRR 7002 is a Pennsylvania Railroad
E7s
steam locomotive
located in the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
, outside of Strasburg
, Pennsylvania
in the United States
. Originally 8063, it was renumbered 7002 after the original, a land-speed-record-setter, was scrap
ped. It is the only surviving locomotive of its class and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
instead a "radial stay" firebox.
in Altoona, Pennsylvania
. On June 11, 1905, the Pennsylvania Railroad inaugurated its new 18-hour train service from New York City
to Chicago
, the Pennsylvania Special—forerunner to the famed Broadway Limited
. 7002 was coupled
to the train as the replacement locomotive in Crestline
, Ohio
. Delays east of Mansfield
caused it to depart Crestline 25 minutes late. 7002 set an unofficial land speed record of 127.1 miles per hour (204.5 km/h) near Elida
and arrived on time in Fort Wayne
, Indiana
. It was scrapped in 1935.
and the Chicago Railroad Fair
in 1948–49. 7002 was transferred to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
from the Pennsylvania Railroad's historical collection in Northumberland, Pennsylvania
in December 1979 by the Pennsylvania's successor Penn Central. 7002 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
on December 17, 1979. In the 1980s, 7002 was leased to and operated by the Strasburg Rail Road
, often double-heading
with PRR 1223
. Both 1223 and 7002 were removed from service when the Strasburg Rail Road acquired an ultrasonic testing device in December 1989 and discovered that the metal sides of the locomotives' fireboxes were too thin to allow for safe operation. The locomotives were moved across the street, to the museum.
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
E7s
PRR E2
The Pennsylvania Railroad's class E2, E3, E7 steam locomotives were of the 4-4-2 "Atlantic" passenger type, frequently called “light Atlantics” after the introduction of the heavier, more powerful E6 Atlantics. All locomotives were similar in terms of wheel configuration and size, boiler capacity...
steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
located in the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is a railroad museum in Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.The museum is located on the east side of Strasburg along Pennsylvania Route 741...
, outside of Strasburg
Strasburg, Pennsylvania
Strasburg is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. It developed as a linear village along the Great Conestoga Road, stretching about two miles along path later known as the Strasburg Road...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Originally 8063, it was renumbered 7002 after the original, a land-speed-record-setter, was scrap
Scrap
Scrap is a term used to describe recyclable and other materials left over from every manner of product consumption, such as parts of vehicles, building supplies, and surplus materials. Unlike waste, scrap has significant monetary value...
ped. It is the only surviving locomotive of its class and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
Background
The E7s-class was created by upgrading the valves in the cylinders on the E2a, E2b, and E2c-classes from slide valves to piston valves. An additional change from the E2 to the E2a,b,c and subsequent E7s class included the use of a Belpaire fireboxBelpaire firebox
The Belpaire firebox is a type of firebox used on steam locomotives. It was invented by Alfred Belpaire of Belgium. It has a greater surface area at the top of the firebox, improving heat transfer and steam production...
instead a "radial stay" firebox.
Original
The original 7002 was an E2-class locomotive built in 1902 by the Pennsylvania Railroad's Altoona WorksAltoona Works
Altoona Works is a large railroad industrial complex in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad to supply the railroad with locomotives, railroad cars and related equipment. For many years it was the largest railroad shop complex in the world.-History:In 1849, PRR...
in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
. On June 11, 1905, the Pennsylvania Railroad inaugurated its new 18-hour train service from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, the Pennsylvania Special—forerunner to the famed Broadway Limited
Broadway Limited
The Broadway Limited was the Pennsylvania Railroad's premier named passenger train, operating daily in each direction between New York City and Chicago, via North Philadelphia. It replaced its predecessors, the Pennsylvania Limited and the Pennsylvania Special...
. 7002 was coupled
Coupling (railway)
A coupling is a mechanism for connecting rolling stock in a train. The design of the coupler is standard, and is almost as important as the railway gauge, since flexibility and convenience are maximised if all rolling stock can be coupled together.The equipment that connects the couplings to the...
to the train as the replacement locomotive in Crestline
Crestline, Ohio
While the Census Bureau recognizes Crestline as a village, its 2000 population of 5,088 makes it a city under Ohio law.Crestline operates under a mayor-council system, with a council of eight members...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Delays east of Mansfield
Mansfield, Ohio
Mansfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Richland County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio in the western foothills of the Allegheny Plateau, approximately southwest of Cleveland and northeast of Columbus....
caused it to depart Crestline 25 minutes late. 7002 set an unofficial land speed record of 127.1 miles per hour (204.5 km/h) near Elida
Elida, Ohio
Elida is a village in Allen County, Ohio, United States with a population of 1,917 as of the 2000 U.S. census. It is included in the Lima, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Elida is located at ....
and arrived on time in Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. It was scrapped in 1935.
Extant
8063 was an E2a-class also built in 1902 by the Altoona Works. It was upgraded to the E7s-class in 1916. 8063 was renumbered, altered to resemble 7002 and placed on exhibit as the "world's fastest steam engine" at the 1939 New York World's Fair1939 New York World's Fair
The 1939–40 New York World's Fair, which covered the of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park , was the second largest American world's fair of all time, exceeded only by St. Louis's Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904. Many countries around the world participated in it, and over 44 million people...
and the Chicago Railroad Fair
Chicago Railroad Fair
The Chicago Railroad Fair was an event organized to celebrate and commemorate 100 years of railroad history west of Chicago, Illinois. It was held in Chicago in 1948 and 1949 along the shore of Lake Michigan, and is often referred to as "the last great railroad fair" with 39 railroad companies...
in 1948–49. 7002 was transferred to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania is a railroad museum in Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.The museum is located on the east side of Strasburg along Pennsylvania Route 741...
from the Pennsylvania Railroad's historical collection in Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Northumberland, Pennsylvania
Northumberland is a borough in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,714 at the 2000 census.-History:Northumberland was founded in 1772. The land that became Northumberland was purchased from the Iroquois in the first Treaty of Fort Stanwix in 1768, and the...
in December 1979 by the Pennsylvania's successor Penn Central. 7002 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on December 17, 1979. In the 1980s, 7002 was leased to and operated by the Strasburg Rail Road
Strasburg Rail Road
The Strasburg Rail Road is a heritage railroad located near Strasburg, Pennsylvania. It operates excursion trains hauled by steam locomotives in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.Across the street lies the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania...
, often double-heading
Double-heading
In railroad terminology, double-heading or double heading indicates the use of two locomotives at the front of a train, each operated individually by its own crew. The practice of triple-heading involves the use of three locomotives....
with PRR 1223
PRR 1223
PRR 1223 is the only preserved class D16sb of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The 4-4-0 sits on static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg. In the 1970s and 80s the 1223 ran on excursions on the Strasburg Rail Road also in Strasburg...
. Both 1223 and 7002 were removed from service when the Strasburg Rail Road acquired an ultrasonic testing device in December 1989 and discovered that the metal sides of the locomotives' fireboxes were too thin to allow for safe operation. The locomotives were moved across the street, to the museum.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania