Pennsylvania Symbols, Steam Locomotive: K4s 3750 and 1361

Pennsylvania Symbols, Steam Locomotive: K4s 3750 & 1361

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K4s Steam Locomotive

K4s locomotives 3750 and 1361

Adopted on December 18, 1987.

The K4s Steam Locomotive is everyone's idea of a typical train engine. The boxy, black cylinder with the short stack on top was the main passenger locomotive of the Pennsylvania railroad for 30 years. At one time, 425 of these powerful coal-burners steamed across the state every one built in Pennsylvania.

The K4s was probably the most popular and best known of all PRR steam locomotives. At top speeds of 75 mph, the K4s were the principal haulers of the Pennsy's main line passenger trains. The key to success of the K4s was its uncanny ability to keep pace with more modern steam power employed by competing railroads.

The Pennsylvania Railroad's Class K4 Pacific (4-6-2) steam passenger locomotive No. 3750 is one of only two survivors of a great fleet that once numbered 425 engines. The other remaining K4, No. 1361 is owned by the Railroader's Memorial Museum in Altoona, PA. Although somewhat overshadowed by its much-publicized sibling, the Railroad Museum's K4 3750 has an interesting history that includes a bizarre identity switch that saved it from the scrap line after it had seen nearly four decades of service

K4s locomotives 3750 and 1361 were designated "The Official Steam Locomotives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" by the Pennsylvania State Legislature and Governor Robert Casey in 1987.

Where is No. 3750?

It is generally heading up a 1950's vintage passenger train inside the exhibit hall of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. It is currently undergoing some additional restoration, and may not be on display there.

Where is the other surviving K4?

No. 1361 was for many years on static display at Horseshoe Curve in Altoona. It was restored to operating condition for excursion use, but encountered extensive problems of age and wear, and is currently disassembled at the Steamtown repair shops.

K4 Specifications:
(Typical engine with Class 110P75a tender)

Total Length 84 ft. (with Tender)
Maximum Boiler Diameter 89 in.; Minimum 78.5 in.
Cylinder Diameter 27 x 28 in.
Driver Wheel Diameter. 80 in.
Boiler Pressure 205 lbs.
Grate Area 69.89 sq. ft.
Total Heating Surface 4041 sq. ft.
Total Engine Weight 320,000 lbs.
Tractive Force 44,460 lbs.
Water Capacity 11,300 gal. Coal Capacity 22 tons
The "s" in K4s means the boiler is superheated
425 K4 locomotives were built; two survive

425 engines built new by Baldwin and by PRR's Altoona shops 1914-1928.

The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania houses one of the most significant collections of historic railroad artifacts in the world.

Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Route 741, P. O. BOX 15
STRASBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17579
PHONE: 717 687- 8628 FAX: 717 687- 0876
Email: info@rrmuseumpa.org

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

No. 1211 Session of 1987

       INTRODUCED BY GEIST, JOHNSON, HAYES, BRANDT, BARLEY, SCHULER,
          SCHEETZ, HONAMAN, MOEHLMANN, MILLER, WAMBACH, WOZNIAK AND
          HESS, APRIL 28, 1987

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 3, 1987

                                    AN ACT

    1 Selecting, designating and adopting the K4S 1361 Steam
    2    Locomotive as the official locomotive of the Commonwealth of
    3    Pennsylvania.
    4 SELECTING, DESIGNATING AND ADOPTING OFFICIAL STEAM AND ELECTRIC
    5    LOCOMOTIVES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.

    6    The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    7 hereby enacts as follows:
    8 Section 1. Official locomotive
    9    The K4S 1361 Steam Locomotive located at the Railroaders'
   10 Memorial Museum in Altoona, Pennsylvania, is hereby selected,
   11 designated and adopted as the official locomotive of the
   12 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
   13 Section 2. Effective date.
   14    This act shall take effect immediately.
   15 SECTION 1. OFFICIAL LOCOMOTIVES.
   16    THE K4S 1361 STEAM LOCOMOTIVE LOCATED AT THE RAILROADERS'
   17 MEMORIAL MUSEUM IN ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND THE K4S 3750 STEAM
   18 LOCOMOTIVE LOCATED AT THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD MUSEUM IN

    1 STRASBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ARE HEREBY SELECTED, DESIGNATED AND
    2 ADOPTED AS THE OFFICIAL STEAM LOCOMOTIVES OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF
    3 PENNSYLVANIA. THE GG1 4859 ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE LOCATED AT THE
    4 TRANSPORTATION CENTER IN HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, IS HEREBY
    5 SELECTED, DESIGNATED AND ADOPTED AS THE OFFICIAL ELECTRIC
    6 LOCOMOTIVE OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
    7 SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
    8  THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.