Pennsylvania Railroad class H6

Pennsylvania Railroad H6/H6a/H6b/H6sa/H6sb
PRR 2846
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder PRR Altoona Works, Baldwin Locomotive Works, Alco -P Build date H6: 1899-1901 H6a: 1901-1905 H6b: 1905–1913 Total produced H6: 189 H6a: 1,242 H6b: 603 Total: 2,034 Number rebuilt 699 to H6sa/H6sb
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 2-8-0 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Leading dia. 36 in (0.91 m) Driver dia. 56 in (1.42 m) Length 65 ft 11 in (20.09 m) (including 70F70 tender) Adhesive weight 180,000 lb (81,650 kg)) Loco weight 204,800 lb (92,900 kg)) Total weight 343,600 lb (155,900 kg) Fuel type Coal Fuel capacity 29,200 lb (13,200 kg)) Water cap. 7,200 US gal (27,000 L; 6,000 imp gal)) Firebox: ​  • Grate area H6: 33.3 sq ft (3.09 m2) Others: 49.0 sq ft (4.55 m2) Boiler pressure 195 psi (1.34 MPa) Cylinders Two Cylinder size H6/H6a/H6b: 22 in × 28 in (560 mm × 710 mm) H6sa/H6sb: 23 in × 28 in (580 mm × 710 mm)
Performance figures Tractive effort H6: 42,717 lbf (190.01 kN) H6a/H6b: 42,168 lbf (187.57 kN) H6sa/H6sb43,841 lbf (195.01 kN)
Career Preserved PRR 2846 Consolidation Freight Locomotive No. 2846 U.S. National Register of Historic Places Nearest city Strasburg, Pennsylvania Coordinates 39°58′56″N 76°9′40″W Area 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) Built 1905 Architect Baldwin Locomotive Works MPS Pennsylvania Railroad Rolling Stock TR NRHP reference No. 79002263 Added to NRHP December 17, 1979

The Pennsylvania Railroad's class H6, H6a, and H6b steam locomotives were of the 2-8-0 "Consolidation" freight type, the most numerous class on the railroad with 2032 units. The three sub-classes differed as follows:

Class	Firebox	Gate	Tractive Force	Driver Size	#Built	Years Built
H6	narrow	33.3	42717	56”	189	1899-01
H6a	Wide	49	42168	56"	1242	1901-05
H6b	Wide	49	42168	56"	603	1905-13

In the 1920s, 699 H6a and H6b had superheaters added and cylinder size increased from 22” to 23” and reclassified to H6sa and H6sb.

Class H6 were used throughout the system as mainline freight haulers, on local freights, and as switchers in yards. They were frequently seen double and triple heading long freight trains up the steep grades on the Pennsy.

During the period when the PRR was building the H-6 class, the railroad had effective stock control of the B&O, and installed a cooperative president Leonor Loree. The B&O acquired from American Locomotive Co. a large group of identical locomotives, originally classed I-4, but later classified as B&O class E-24. The E-24 class had many variations, some being converted to switchers, superheated, and new valve chests. The E-24a was equivalent to the PRR H-6sb. On the B&O the E-24 class survived to the Diesel era.

Survivors

PRR #2846, an H6sb built in 1905 by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, has been preserved by the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania with two other examples of the H class. #2846 was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 as Consolidation Freight Locomotive No. 2846.