Taken at Wyoming, Michigan on 9/19/49:

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/co/co-s2697dsa.jpg

Built as PM N class #1213, this engine and its 14 sisters were reclassified by the Chesapeake & Ohio as class N-3. All of these former 1937 Lima built engines were relettered for the C&O and renumbered. The other two classes of PM Berks were also scheduled to be relettered and renumbered (but keeping their N-1 and N-2 PM class designations) but not a single one ever was. In the spring of 1951, number 2697 and 4 of her sisters were sent down to the C&O's Chesapeake District, where they were soon joined by 3 N-1's, two N-2's and a sixth relettered/renumbered N-3. These 11 former PM locomotves ended their days running mostly out of Russell, Kentucky and Columbus, Ohio, but also out of Clifton Forge, Virginia. These 11 expatriates were the first PM 2-8-4's to be scrapped, in 1952, `53 and `54 . Pictured 2697 (ex-PM #1213) met the torch in November of 1952. The other PM Berks that stayed back on PM property in Michigan lasted longer, although they were stored, out of service. The majority of the other Lima built N-1's were scrapped in 1956 while the "war babies", the 1944 Lima built N-2's (and N-1 #1224) lasted until 1961. And it was in 1961 that two of the PM Berkshires were chosen for preservation; numbers 1223 and 1225. Although the C&O had planned on renumbering the two lucky Berks as C&O numbers 2657 and 2659, both engines were preserved in their original PM lettering and with their PM numbers.

PM Number 1225 has, of course, since been restored and runs on occassion out of her Owosso, Michigan home.

Les