PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD K4s CLASS PACIFIC

This next item is of one of the famous PRR Keystone Number Plates. The one pictured here is from K4 #958. The plate was fully restored prior to my ownership. This one still retains the 3 mounting lugs on the back side and remain full length. Lots of these plates had the lugs cut short when hastily removed from the Loco smokebox with a cutting torch. #958 was removed properly by unbolting. Please click on photo to view a larger one.

*************************

This item, sadly, is not part of my collection, but wish it were. This is a K4s Locomotive Headlight. This particular one is the modern Cast Headlight that was once worn on K4s #262. Good news about this one is it was purchased recently for the Long Island Railroad G5s 4-6-0 #35 resoration. Nice to see it going to good use!

PRR K4s Headlight

*************************

K4s 1737 NEARING IT'S END

I just recently acquired a handful of original photographs of PRR Steam. They were all dated Feb 1960. The photos concentrate on a group of locomotives (H9, I1sa, L1s and a K4s) sitting in a scrap line in preparation to being cut up. Looking closely at the K4s and confirming later, it was none other the the very first K4s, #1737. Upon retirement in 1956 it was sent to Northumberland for preservation. Upon inspection it was soon found out that the loco was in such poor condition it was not worth saving. So the PRR found another K4s to be its stand in. #3750 was the K4s selected. Numerous things were switched between locomotives to turn the 3750 into 1737. It lasted that way for awhile. Later the real identity of the 3750 came out. What happened to the 1737 after this identity swap? Well it appears that the 1737 stayed in PRR hands, probably in Northumberland or Altoona for a few more years. Records show it was sold for scrap in Feb 1960. Where did it go? It went to Warren, Ohio to the Luntz Iron and Steel Co., a scrap company who's work was to get rid of such items as steam locomotives. Absolutely no signs of it being the 1737 were left. Gone was the keystone number plate of course as it was used to help turn the 3750 into 1737. Gone in the photos are the builders plates as well. I wonder were those went. Did the PRR place them on the 3750 too? Or did a railfan remove them while the loco was in this scrap line? Gone are the number boards in the headlight as well. But you can be sure, this is the very first K4s, #1737, waiting for its end.

*************************

My Brush with K4s 1361

I had seen 1361 on several occasions in the past while visiting Horseshoe Curve and riding Amtrak and one of the Reading Steam Excursions, but several days prior to the removal of the K4s from the Curve on 9-30-85, I had the opportunity to get up close, closer than normally allowed. While visiting the Curve I noticed the fence was partially down and several Conrail Employees fiddling with the Drive Rods etc. I approached them and asked some questions and was informed of the plan to remove the loco from the park for restoration. I was completly unaware this was in the works. Asking very nicely, and given permission, I was able to enter the cab for a photo op as well as another portrait near the pilot. Photos below. The K4s sure had seen better days but this was my only time to get close. Several days later I made plans to be in Altoona when it arrived for restoration. I had to stay one day extra as it took longer for the move to be done. I have since seen the 1361 in many pieces in it newest full restoration. I am hopeful to see it in service again.

****************

Over the years Pennsy Modelers had plenty of HO Scale Model K4s's to choose from. Below are 3 examples of the famous K4's in model form. The locos pictured here are Brass Imports and they represent the K4 in 3 different versions. The first, (a PFM Model) is how the K4 would have looked from the late 1920's through the mid 1930's. The second model photo, (an Alco Models Import), represents the first of the Streamlined K4's. This is how the K4 would have looked shortly after the 1936 time frame. As delivered in 1936, the K4s #3768 Streamlined Shroud was painted a Dark Bronze color. This K4 did not last long in that color. It was later painted the standard Dark Green, almost Black, (as seen here) color as any other PRR Steam Loco. The Streamlined shrouding was removed a few years later. The 3rd K4 model seen below, (again, an Alco Models import) represents the Streamlined Shrouding that was applied to (4) K4s in 1940. This type shrouding allowed easier access for mechanics to reach vital mechanical parts during servicing. Again, these shroudings were painted in standard Pennsy colors. Removal of the shrouds began in the late 1940's. However, one of these K4's retained most of her shrouding until being scrapped in the early 1950's. Click on the small photos to view a larger photo.