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Zephyr4501 — Reading 1187
Published: 2017-07-11 18:57:09 +0000 UTC; Views: 1215; Favourites: 24; Downloads: 4
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Description
Otherwise known as Strasburg 4. This is slated to be restored, but not for a while.Related content
Comments: 5
The story of the Strasburg Camelback #1187 began as the 1st-constructed 0-4-0 switcher type locomotive made by Baldwin in 1902.
Built for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad back then, it was one of (19) 'Mother Hubbard' camelbacks classified as 'A4b'.
They weighed in at 108,000 pounds and they produced 12,890 pounds of tractive effort.
Although the 'A4b's weren't really powerhouses on the mainline, but just perfectly ideal for switching around the yard.
Backwards and forwards absolutely often on many tracks around the train yard, the 1187 and her (18) sister locomotives performed admirably for six decades.
They even kept work at a good quality, lining up freight cars for day after day so that the big locomotives could take on long journeys.
A year after the 2nd world war, the 1187 achieved out it's career renumbered as #4, commuting freight cars for the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company's E&G Brooke plant in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania.
In 1962 when the steam era ended on the Reading Railroad, the #4 was bought by the Strasburg Railroad in hopes of having a pair of steam engines to pull the newly-made but burgeoning tourist railroad's passenger trains.
Like any steam locomotive in children's books or on the screens of television/film, on Thursday - 8th of Nov. 1962, the #4 tackled under its own power to the Strasburg Railroad.
Such a journey for a small locomotive leaving its industrial domain towards its new destination would be like a adventure that a machine on wheels has done before.
Halfway through the trip, a unscheduled stop was made due to a broken spring that needed repair.
After some time of repairs, the #4 finally brushed against the Strasburg rails at Leaman Place Junction as the only steamer to arrive at the railroad under its own power.
Since it's arrival was made in the hours of the night, the #4 reached its destination after a 4-in-a-half mile trip to the new hospitality of the Strasburg Railroad.
After over the winter, spring and early summer of having undergoing extensive overhauls, the #4 was finally able to make its official debut on July 3rd before the Day of Independence.
Unfortunately however on its debut on the Strasburg Railroad, the #4's career as a road engine was short lived.
It was soon found that the crews of the Camelback found things rough to fire it up with bituminous coal.
Also, the #4 lacked the proper steaming capacity to haul longer trains over the entire line and return.
After only six weeks on the road, the #4 went to a new assignment as a permanent switcher, assisting with the runaround maneuvers at the station.
This was a new routine during the summer months for four years.
On Sunday; May 7th in 1967, the former Reading 'Camelback' was tasked with hauling a Baltimore Chapter NRHS charter from Leaman Place Junction to the East Strasburg station.
This however was the little engine's final revenue run on the Strasburg Railroad.
Three weeks after its last run on the 27th of May 1967, the #4 was transferred under steam to the engine house where its flue time had expired.
Since that day, the 'Camelback's fire was dropped for the last time.
This marked the end of a short career for the only operable 'Camelback', no longer would any more of its kind be chuffing around in train yards on the mainline and beyond in America.
Rough-riding had proved too much for the Strasburg Railroad crews, plus the difficulty of bituminous coal burning had approved complicated.
Today on display after being redecorated in its former livery, number, and logo, the Ex-RDG 'Camelback' remains silence.
Exposed to the elements and rust, the 1187 hadn't flow very well in the outdoors of the engine house.
You may not hear it at all physically, but it is obvious for imagining that the poor 'Camelback' has been singing the 'Train Yard/Whistle Blues'.
Recently in 2004, the Strasburg Railroad had announced restoring the 1187 into operating condition was confirmed, but it has been a long-pacing project - due to other things blocking the way.
But we can only hope that one day like we hoped with Norfolk & Western class 'A' locomotive no. 1218, it is only a matter of time before the would-be only operable 'Camelback' will ride again.
For now though, it's a waiting game.
Years outside while being exposed to the elements is ENOUGH, and I too wanna see her back in action.
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If they do restore this, it would be great to see a camelback in action.
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The 1187 was the #4 in Strasburg Railroad for operation and display.
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