1914
The "E6" Class:
The introduction of steel passenger trains on the Pennsylvania at the turn of the twentieth century created a need for a more powerful passenger locomotive. While most roads had begun building larger Pacific (4-6-2) type locomotives for this service, Alfred Gibbs, the PRR's General Superintendent of Motive Power, Lines East, chose to refine the proven and reliable Atlantic.
Designed to be powerful yet lightweight, the E6 class earned a reputation as the ultimate development of their type. The design featured a greatly enlarged and superheated boiler atop a sturdy yet lightweight frame. From their debut in 1910 to the arrival of the first K4 Pacific's in 1920, the E6 fleet held down the premier passenger assignments east of Harrisburg, PA.
Bumped to secondary and commuter trains in the 1920's, the E6 fleet soldier on for many more decades. By the 1950's only 3 remained, including the last one built, No. 460. No. 460 finished her career in commuter service on the Atlantic Division and Seashore Lines, including hauling the last passenger train down the original route of the Camden and Amboy, before being retired in 1955. Immediately upon retirement, No. 460 was added to the PRR's historic collection, and officially added to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania's roster in 1979.
Builder: Pennsylvania RR, Juniata, PA
Build Date: August, 1914
Retirement Date: October 1955
Class: E6s
Number Built: 83
Driving Wheel Diameter: 81 in.
Tractive Effort: 31,275 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: Coal: 16 tons, Water: 7,150 gal.
Boiler Pressure: 205 psi.
PHMC Catalogue No. RR79.40.4
*Listed on the National Register of Historic Places *
The Lindberg SpecialNo. 460's most famous assignment came on June 11, 1927, racing newsreel footage of a Presidential reception for Charles Lindberg from Washington, D.C. to New York City for the International News Reel Company. A competing firm had chartered an airplane for the same purpose. Intent on upholding its reputation for speed, the Pennsylvania converted a baggage car into a dark room to enable the footage to be developed en route and chose one of its fastest locomotives, No. 460, to power the special train. Although the plane landed earlier, the film carried by the Pennsylvania had already been developed and was shown in theaters first. From that day on, No. 460 held the title of "the train that beat the plane."
(Banner at Bottom):In 1927, No. 460 raced an airplane from Washington, D.C. to New York, hauling newsreel footage of Charles Lindberg's Presidential reception.
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