PRR A5s

PRR No. 94 at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania

Type and origin
Power type	Steam
Builder	Juniata Shops
Build date	1916–1924
Total produced	47

Specifications
Configuration	0-4-0
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in)
Driver diameter	50 inches (1,300 mm)
Loco weight	131,750 pounds (59,760 kg)
Firebox: • Firegrate area	38.3 square feet (3.56 m²)
Boiler pressure	185 pounds (84 kg)
Cylinder size	20 inches (510 mm) × 24 inches (610 mm)

Performance figures
Tractive effort	30,190 pounds (13,690 kg)

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The Pennsylvania Railroad's class A5s was the largest class of 0-4-0 steam locomotives. The Pennsylvania Railroad built 47 in its Juniata Shops between 1916–1924. They were all retired by 1957. One is preserved at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

History

In the 1920s many railroads in the United States of America had retired 0-4-0 steam locomotives, because they were too small to move freight cars in yards and were too small for switching duties. This was not the case on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The Pennsylvania Railroad was keen on this wheel arrangement due to complex street and tight industrial trackage across its broad system of trackage. For some of these lines, the Pennsylvania Railroad needed a large 0-4-0 to handle the larger switching activities the railroad had. Although the class B was designated for steam locomotives with the 0-6-0 wheel arrangement, these steam locomotives could not fit the tight and complex street, dockyard and industrial trackage the Pennsylvania Railroad had in its possession.

In as early as 1956, the A5s steam locomotives started to be replaced by higher horse powered and heavy duty diesel switchers. For the next year, these switchers were gradually replaced by diesel locomotives. Finally in 1957, the Pennsylvania Railroad converted from steam to diesel power and the end of an era was finished.

Preservation

There is one known A5s 0-4-0 in existence. Pennsylvania Railroad number 94, is the sole surviving A5s in existence. It is at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, across from the Strasburg Rail Road.

Notes

↑ Staufer & Pennypacker 1962, pp. 15–16

References

Staufer, Alvin F.; Pennypacker, Bert (1962). Pennsy Power: Steam and Electric Locomotives of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 1900-1957. Research by Martin Flattley. Carollton, OH: Alvin F. Staufer. ISBN 978-0944513040. LCCN 62020878. OCLC 602543182.

External links

Media related to Pennsylvania Railroad A5 at Wikimedia Commons

Pennsylvania Railroad locomotives

A (0-4-0):	A1 A2 A3 A4 A5s

B (0-6-0):	B1 (s) B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B1 (e)

C (0-8-0):	C1 C29 C30 C31

D (4-4-0):	D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 D6 D7 D8 D9 D10 D11 D12 D13 D14 D15 D16 D21 D22 D23 D24 D25 D26 D30 D31 D32 D33 D34 D35 D36 D37 D38 D39 D61 "Odd D" #10003

E (4-4-2):	E1 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 E21 E22 E23 E28

F (2-6-0):	F1 F2 F3 F21 F22 F23 F24 F25 F26 F27 F30 F31 F61

G (4-6-0):	G1 G2 G3 G4 G5 G53

H (2-8-0):	H1 H2 H3 H4 H5 H6 H8 H9 H10

I (2-10-0):	I1s

J (2-6-2 and 2-10-4):	J1 J28

K (4-6-2):	K1 K2 K3s K4s K5

L (2-8-2):	L1s L2s L5 L6

M (4-8-2):	M1

N (2-10-2):	N1s N2s

O (4-4-4):	O1

P (4-6-4):	P5

Q (4-6-4-4 and 4-4-6-4):	Q1 Q2

R (4-8-4):	R1

S (6-4-4-6 and 6-8-6):	S1 S2

T (4-4-4-4):	T1

Articulated steam locomotives:	CC1s CC2s HC1s HH1s HH2s

Articulated electric locomotives:	AA1 BB1 BB2 BB3 DD1 DD2 FF1 FF2 GG1

Non-standard:	E2b E2c E3b E44

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