A simple question. The Pennsylvania's K4 (4-6-2) and L1 (2-8-2) were supposedly designed so that the boilers on the two were interchangeable. Is there any record that the PRR actually ever performed such an exchange? In other words, gave a K4 the boiler off of an L1, or vice versa?

Just curious. Thanks.

Les

I seem to remember the boiler on 1361 was originally on a M-1. Am I remembering this correctly?

John Bohon

I believe the K4 and L1 boilers were the same measures; the two K5's wore I1sa size boilers. The G5s, E6s, and H-10s, also had similar boilers. The M1 boiler was far too large for a K4. The L1 stored at the RMPA had a new boiler late in its life due to an explosion while in service. And no, the RMPA is never going to allow a boiler swap in a million years, though people constantly raise the inquiry.

It would seem that a boiler swap would do no good, as I understand the issue the outer wrapper(in the area of tthe roofsheet) is to thin by design. That is to say that it is to thin to meet factor of safety of 4. So, logic would suggest that the boiler on the locomotive in the RMPA would have the same issue.
Would be some seriously interesting industrial archeology to hit the wrapper sheet on the RMPA boiler to see if it was a standard design flaw or if only a few boilers suffered...or if it was corrected at some point.

The boilers are the same, with the exception of the waist sheet and the forward belly washout hole doublers. That is what the boiler drawings I have for the K4 indicate.

Robert Yuill

IMHO, an extension to this would (will?) be the G boiler under restoration on Long Island.

Bob