So here's a little mind-bender... are there any operating steam locomotives with us today that actually ran in revenue service in the state of PA that do not have the letters "EBT" on their tenders or run on larger than 42" ga track?

For the center of presevation that PA is, one might think this a no-brainer, yet I am scratching my head.

The EBT and the lokies at Ashland have PA genes, but what else? Certainly #765 will count when she returns. Reading? Nope and The T-1's are all cold. No PRR steam is running as of now, right? No B&O either? CNJ? Not yet. LV? None left. DL&W? Nope. LNE? Nada. NYC? No.

Am I missing one?

Rob

Well--add to your list of PA pedigree locomotives not running right this instant but hopefully someday again: the H&BTM 2-8-0 and the Baldwin 26 shop switcher at Steamtown.

Here are two that do count as PA pedigree and running today if you include industrials and non-common-carrier end-users in PA as revenue service:

Cass Heisler No. 6, operable, was built in 1929 for the Bostonia Coal and Clay Products Company of New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania as their #20.

WK&S 65, operable, was built for Safe Harbor Water Power of Pa.

I am pretty sure both locomotive at Kempton are native to Pennsylvania. The 0-6-0 from Safe Harbor and the 0-4-0 from Birdsboro. I am sure there must be others.

Good call guys, how could I forget my favorite! Yes WK&S #65 ran in PA. #2 did too, but I don't think she's running these days. So, it seems #65 may be the lone PA girl running with 4'8.5" between her rails.

Rob

Add to the list Mr. Gramling's 0-4-0T #75 that's up in Michigan. Built as Flagg Coal #2, it's original owner was in PA.

Rob, did you mean from PA and running in PA today? Or running anywhere? If the latter, the Heisler counts--Cass is standard gauge.

Yes, I did mean in and out of PA. Good call on the Cass loco. Any others?

Rob

....... Mt. Pleasant, Iowa's Midwest Central #2, ex-Argent Lumber Co, nee-New Berlin & Winfield (Union County, Pa.) 2-6-0.............

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Another mind-bending question...

There is another standard gauge steam locomotive that was built for a Pennsylvania rail operation and was used in "revenue service" at that same operation until quite recently (I believe the engine in question is still operational)(it's definitely still in PA).

1000 points for the answer.

Regards,
Jim Robinson

Brain-teaser answer:

How recently? I'll nominate Pennsylvania Power & Light's H.K. Porter-built 1949 0-6-0F fireless steamers at the former PP&L plant in Shamokin Dam, Snyder County, Pa. (plant now owned by its third owner, as I recall).

The one loco was last used in the winter of 1989-90 when the Alco S1 (ex-West Pittston & Exeter #6, transferred there 1972) broke down for the last time. One of the duo went to a personal collection of one of the BM&R engineers and I last saw it at Hamburg in a dead line; the other was displayed at the plant until PP&L sold it; it was then sold/donated to a couple local railfans and was last reported at the end of track on the now-dead West Shore RR in Mifflinburg, Pa.

I'll cash in my thousand points for a cab ride on 765, please.........

RE: 1000 points for the answer.

How about #60000 at the Franklin Institute in Philly? It moves back and forth all the time albeit not under steam.

I was thinking the same thing but you beat me to it. If this is the answer, that "until recently" worries me a bit, though.

Well... it was a bit of a trick question...

Rob didn't say it had to be an OLD standard gauge steam locomotive--just that it was built for a PA railroad / rail operation; was used in the past in "revenue service" in PA., and is currently operational.

The Knox and Kane's circa 1989 Chinese SY 2-8-2 (16)58 DOES fit the above criteria. It was built for a PA railroad. It has seen revenue service (hey I paid to ride behind it, so that's revenue!) in PA and (I believe) is still operational (but not in use since the viaduct collapse).

Regards,
Jim Robinson

Pretty soon, PRR 1361 should be on that list, most likely pulling the Broadway Limited throughout the state.