Pennsylvania Railroad 3750 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids PRR 3750 |
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| PRR No. 3750 on static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania | |
| Power type | Steam |
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| Builder | Altoona Works |
| Build date | 1918 |
| Configuration | 4-6-2 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Leading wheel diameter | 36 in (914 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 80 in (2,032 mm) |
| Trailing wheel diameter | 50 in (1,270 mm) |
| Wheelbase | 13 ft 10 in (4.2 m) between driving axles |
| Length | 83 ft 6 in (25.5 m) |
| Locomotive weight | 274,500 lb (124,511 kg) |
| Fuel type | Coal |
| Boiler pressure | 205 psi (1,413 kPa) |
| Fire grate area | 70 sq ft (7 m2) |
| Cylinder size | 27 in × 28 in (686 mm × 711 mm) |
| Tractive effort | 44,460 lbf (197,767.9 N) |
| Factor of adhesion | 4.54 |
| Retired | 1956 |
| Current owner | Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission |
| Disposition | On outdoor static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania outside Strasburg, Pennsylvania |
| Official name: Passenger Locomotive No. 1737 | |
| Designated: | December 17, 1979 |
| Part of: | Pennsylvania Railroad Rolling Stock Thematic Resource |
| Reference #: | 79002273 |
PRR 3750 is a Pennsylvania Railroad K4s 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive located in the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania in the United States. For over a decade, 3750 stood in for the prototype K4s, 1737, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It is one of the two remaining K4s locomotives and, along with PRR 1361, was designated the official state steam locomotive in 1987 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
History
PRR 3750 was used to haul the Pennsylvania Railroad's mainline passenger trains such as the Broadway Limited. Despite the attempt by railroad management to replace the K4s with the K5 and T1, the K4s would remain in action until dieselization in 1957. The 3750 was spared from being scrapped because, when the Pennsylvania Railroad was considering steam engines for preservation, the first K4s, 1737, had deteriorated to the point that it was not worth preserving. The Pennsylvania decided to scrap 1737 and use 3750 as a stand-in; 3750 received the original number plates and tender from 1737.
In 1921, 3750 headed up soon-to-be President Warren G. Harding's campaign train. Three years later, it also was one of the locomotives that pulled Harding's funeral train.
When the steam power era ended most railroads scrapped their locomotives. The PRR however took pride in their engineering and mechanical legacy. PRR historian Dan Cupper gives much credit to a former Chief of Motive Power for the initiative to preserve examples of their most successful engines at their Northumberland, Pennsylvania roundhouse. In 1975, PRR 3750 was moved to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. The entire PRR collection came under threat in the 1980s when the PRR's successor, the Penn Central estate, sought to raise cash by selling them for scrap. The Pennsylvania Legislature intervened and forgave some back taxes in exchange for deeding the collection to the state.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly designated 3750 and 1361 the official state steam locomotives on December 18, 1987, while also designating the GG1 4859 the state electric locomotive in the same bill.
Preservation
As of 2019, the 3750 sits on outdoor static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania outside of Strasburg, Pennsylvania. The museum's volunteer group plans to have 3750 cosmetically restored prior to it being placed in a planned roundhouse.
