Pennsylvania Railroad Class H6

The PRR H6 class Steam Locomotives were the original narrow-belpaire boilered versions of the H6 series 2-8-0 steam locomotives built for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
== History and Development ==
In the late 1890s, the Pennsylvania Railroad was considered the "Standard Railroad of the World" as it was the largest in the United States, and known for experimenting with steam locomotives, the railroad needed lots of them. The Pennsylvania was in need of a more powerful steam locomotive type to fulfill heavy demands of the coming century. The premier bulk of freight engines at the time were the H1, H3, and H4 2-8-0 classes and some early G1 and G2 class Ten Wheelers. With freight trains getting heavier, the H3 engines with their small 50" Drivers could not move all the traffic, and more importantly couldn't do it fast enough. As several batches of F class 2-6-0s were ordered and put into service on the Pittsburgh Division, they were fast enough for the demands but they're tractive effort couldn't cope with the steep grades, so by the end of the century after the H4s and H5s were built, the PRR followed suit with a larger locomotive of the 2-8-0 design based on the specifications of the recently developed H5 class mountain pushers. Late that year, the PRR Altoona Shops and Juniata Shops drew plans for the H-6, the sixth design of 2-8-0s. These locomotives were to be built with 22" x 28" cylinders with Stephenson valve gear driving 56" drivers. The Boiler was slightly larger than the previous H5 of a maximum boiler diameter of 76" with a higher pressure of 205 Lbs. PSI than the earlier H5 of 185 Lbs. they also had a large narrow-belpaire firebox at the time with the design based on earlier classes which the H3 engines were the first to use the fireboxes back in 1885. The firebox measured 130" long by 40" wide, producing an impressive 42,168 Lbs. tractive effort. The first of these engines rolled out of Juniata in January 1899 was PRR #673, which was put into service on the Pennsylvania's Pittsburgh Division and becoming a standard freight locomotive for the end of the century, the railroad needed many to fulfill the demands of record-breaking railroad traffic. So for the next few years, one hundred and ninety of them were built by the Juniata Shops, the Altoona Shops, and the Baldwin Locomotive Works between early 1899 and late 1901.
== Issues and Operations ==
Although the engine's pulling power and boiling performance proved to be enough for what the PRR needed, their fireboxes being too long was the main problem as they were hard to keep an even Fire. Engine crews didn't like them as they weren't free steaming as when they were working at capacity it resulted in poor combustion with small air space that resulted in dirty fires making black smoke. Although they had good pulling power working alongside the older H3 class around Altoona and by Horseshoe curve, these Early H6 engines proved to be unsuitable as the firemen claimed that they're heating spaces needed to be wider, earning them the nickname "Smooth Bores". They mainly worked as freight haulers, sometimes double-heading up the hills or pushing behind heavy trains.
== Service, Rebuilds and Withdraw ==
As the Pennsy put in service during 1901 some 4-4-2 Atlantic's with wide bottomed belpaire fireboxes with better burning performances, this new redesign was re-applied on the flawed H6 engines as in 1901 the Pennsy developed the wide-belpaire H6a's which suited the demands better than the earlier H6. All H6 locomotives remained present in several services throughout the 1910s commonly found in various sites in Pennsylvania, most were never rebuilt as almost all of them were never changed barely. After the end of the First World War in 1918, the early H6s were already out of favor as the better steaming H6a's and B's were handling freights better and with less coal compared to they're older siblings. Starting in the early 1920s the railroad began retiring them in favor of better and bigger engines like the H8, H9, and H10 classes and beyond. However out of the one hundred and ninety engine units, one straight H6 #1848 was rebuilt with a Superheater, as three H6's #1847, #1851, and #1875 were rebuilt with wide-belpaire fireboxes becoming H6a's as two became H6sa's (#1847 and #1875) which were the only two that were ever so equipped. The rest of the original H6s remained unchanged as surplus as the last were scrapped by 1931, but some of the rebuilt engines lasted past that date by only a few years. None of these were preserved.
== Stock List ==
Number(s) 	Builder 	Year Built	Retired/Scrapped 	Notes
1084 (Ren. 01084 in 1921, and Ren. 2/1924 as #47) 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	July 1927 	
1806 (Ren. 01806 in 1913, and Ren. 8/1924 as #602) 	Baldwin 	1899 	October 1925 	
1853 (Ren. 01853 by 1921, and Ren. 2/1924 as #1937) 	Baldwin 	1900 	April 1925 	
1854 (Ren. 01854 in 1913, and Ren. 3/1924 as #1947) 	Baldwin 	1900 	October 1925 	
1882 (Ren. 01882 in 1921, and Ren. 8/1923 as #592) 	Baldwin 	1901 	April 1925 	
233 (Ren. 0233 in 1923, later NB&PL #23) 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	Unknown 	Sold March 1924
348 (Ren. 0348 in 1919, and Ren. 3/1924 as #2004) 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	July 1926 	
490 (Ren. 0490 in 1921) 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	January 1924 	
641 (Ren. 0641 in 1921) 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	Early 1920s 	
102 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	January 1927 	
1075 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	April 1925 	
1115 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	September 1925 	
1116 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	April 1925 	
114 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	By late 1920s 	
115 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	August 1924 	
118 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
1202 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	November 1926 	
123 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	May 1926 	
141 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	October 1924 	
1434 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
1437 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
166 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	December 1926 	
1664 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	October 1925 	
1665 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
1667 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	June 1924 	
167 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	August 1924 	
1673 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1926 	
1699 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	September 1925 	
1706 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	April 1925 	
1736 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	May 1926 	
1739 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	January 1926 	
1751 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	April 1925 	
1756 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	May 1926 	
1757 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	April 1925 	
1758 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	April 1925 	
1804 	Baldwin 	1899 	February 1927 	
1805 	Baldwin 	1899 	April 1925 	
1807 	Baldwin 	1899 	February 1925 	
1808 	Baldwin 	1899 	January 1926 	
1809 	Baldwin 	1899 	October 1924 	
1810 (Ren. N&PB #20) 	Baldwin 	1899 	Unknown 	Sold March 1923
1811 (Ren. N&PB #18) 	Baldwin 	1899 	Unknown 	Sold December 1922
1812 	Baldwin 	1899 	April 1925 	
1813 	Baldwin 	1899 	April 1925 	
1814 	Baldwin 	1899 	April 1925 	
1815 	Baldwin 	1899 	October 1925 	
1816 	Baldwin 	1899 	January 1926 	
1817 	Baldwin 	1899 	April 1925 	
1818 	Baldwin 	1899 	October 1925 	
1819 	Baldwin 	1899 	April 1925 	
1820 	Baldwin 	1899 	March 1926 	
1821 	Baldwin 	1899 	September 1926 	
1822 	Baldwin 	1899 	December 1924 	
1823 	Baldwin 	1899 	May 1926 	
1824 	Baldwin 	1899 	October 1926 	
1825 	Baldwin 	1899 	April 1925 	
1826 	Baldwin 	1899 	May 1925 	
1827 	Baldwin 	1899 	April 1925 	
1828 (Ren. Midland Valley #80) 	Baldwin 	1899 	Unknown 	Sold September 1917
1829 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
1830 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	May 1926 	
1831 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	February 1926 	
1832 (Ren. Genral Equipment Co. #2011) 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	Unknown 	Sold March 1917
1833 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	August 1926 	
1834 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	January 1926 	
1835 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
1836 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
1837 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	October 1925 	
1838 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	By late 1920s 	
1839 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	October 1925 	
1840 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	December 1924 	
1841 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	November 1925 	
1842 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	February 1926 	
1843 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	October 1927 	Last unmodified H6 to be retired.
1844 (Ren. N&PB #19) 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	Unknown 	Sold December 1922
1845 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	September 1925 	
1846 (Ren. N&PB #21) 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	Unknown 	Sold March 1923
1847 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	August 1933 	Rebuilt with new Wide firebox December 1904 as H6a, Superheater installed March 1918 as H6sa, pistons rebuilt with 23" Diameter. Was very last of the Original H6 design used.
1848 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	April 1927 	Superheater installed June 1919 as H6s, pistons rebuilt with 23" Diameter, Only H6s.
1849 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	December 1926 	
1850 	Baldwin 	1900 	Before 1930 	
1851 	Baldwin 	1900 	Before 1930 	Rebuilt with new Wide firebox becoming H6a.
1852 	Baldwin 	1900 	Before 1930 	
1855 	Baldwin 	1900 	Before 1930 	
1856 	Baldwin 	1900 	Before 1930 	
1857 	Baldwin 	1900 	Before 1930 	
1858 	Baldwin 	1900 	Before 1930 	
1859 	Baldwin 	1900 	February 1924 	
1860 (Ren. General Equipment Co, then American Metal Co. Ltd.	Baldwin 	1900 	Unknown 	Sold October 1916 to General, sale to American unknown.
1861 	Baldwin 	1900 	February 1927 	
1862 	Baldwin 	1900 	July 1927 	
1863 	Baldwin 	1900 	December 1926 	
1864 	Baldwin 	1900 	Possibly June 1929 	
1865 	Baldwin 	1900 	April 1927 	
1866 	Baldwin 	1900 	January 1926 	
1867 	Baldwin 	1900 	March 1924 	
1868 	Baldwin 	1900 	July 1926 	
1869 	Baldwin 	1900 	April 1925 	
1870 	Baldwin 	1900 	February 1926 	
1871 	Baldwin 	1900 	Unknown 	Sold March 1917 to General Equipment Co.
1872 	Baldwin 	1900 	May 1927 	
1873 	Baldwin 	1900 	Possibly August 1920 	
1874 	Baldwin 	1900 	April 1925 	
1875 	Baldwin 	1900 	Possibly July 1925 	Rebuilt November 1913 with wide-firebox H6a Boiler, becoming H6a.
1876 	Baldwin 	1900 	February 1927 	
1877 	Baldwin 	1900 	April 1925 	
1878 	Baldwin 	1900 	March 1926 	
1879 	Baldwin 	1900 	January 1926 	
1880 	Baldwin 	1901 	January 1926 	
1881 	Baldwin 	1901 	April 1925 	
1883 	Baldwin 	1901 	May 1926 	
1884 	Baldwin 	1901 	April 1926 	
1885 	Baldwin 	1901 	May 1926 	
1886 	Baldwin 	1901 	August 1926 	
1887 	Baldwin 	1901 	January 1927 	
1888 	Baldwin 	1901 	August 1927 	
1889 	Baldwin 	1901 	April 1925 	
199 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
213 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	September 1924 	
214 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	February 1926 	
224 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	Unknown 	Sold October 1916 to American Metal Co.
232 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	April 1925 	
234 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	March 1924 	
25 	PRR Altoona 	1900 	October 1926 	
255 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	November 1926 	
256 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	July 1926 	
282 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
284 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	March 1924 	
286 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	December 1926 	
291 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	May 1926 	
294 	PRR Altoona 	1900 	February 1926 	
300 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	May 1926 	
302 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	Before 1930 	
306 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	September 1925 	
308 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	January 1926 	
321 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	May 1927 	
322 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	December 1926 	
326 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	September 1925 	
351 (Ren. WNY&P #31) 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	Unknown 	Sold July 1901 to WNY&P, reasons unknown.
354 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	October 1925 	
369 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	November 1924 	
373 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	September 1925 	
377 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	January 1926 	
380 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	December 1926 	
394 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	August 1924 	
466 (Ren. Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt. #24) 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	Unknown 	Sold in January 1925.
470 (Ren. WNY&P #152) 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	Unknown 	Sold in July 1901.
479 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	August 1926 	
495 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
5 	APRR Juniata	1899 	November 1924 	
529 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	August 1924 	
542 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	October 1925 	
574 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
583 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1926 	
586 	PRR Altoona 	1900 	March 1926 	
589 	PRR Altoona 	1900 	August 1926 	
592 (Ren. Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt. #22) 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	Unknown 	Possibly Sold June 1923.
609 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	August 1924 	
620 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	Possibly October 1926	
628 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	September 1925 	
6313 (Ren. West New York and Pennsylvania #31) 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	Unknown 	Sold in August 1903.
6314 (Ren. West New York and Pennsylvania #152) 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	Unknown 	Sold sometime in 1903.
656 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	September 1926 	
659 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
667 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	March 1927 	
668 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	March 1926 	
673 	PRR Juniata 	1/1899 	August 1926 	First production H6 built.
678 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	October 1925 	
707 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	January 1927 	
725 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	April 1925 	
740 	PRR Altoona 	1900 	April 1925 	
743 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	July 1926 	
771 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	October 1925 	
772 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	June 1926 	
794 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	October 1926 	
811 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	December 1924 	
824 	PRR Altoona 	1900 	March 1924 	
832 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	June 1926 	
845 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	October 1925 	
847 	PRR Altoona 	1899 	March 1926 	
883 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
885 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	December 1926 	
893 	PRR Altoona 	1900 	Before 1930 	
898 	PRR Altoona 	1900 	January 1927 	
90 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	April 1925 	
902 	PRR Juniata 	1900 	October 1926 	
978 (Ren. Midland Valley Railway #81 possibly) 	PRR Altoona 	1900 	Unknown 	Sold in September 1917.
980 	PRR Altoona 	1900 	August 1924 	
981 	PRR Juniata 	1899 	December 1926 	
990 	PRR Juniata 	1901 	Sometime 1926 	
== Trivia ==
* The original H6 design was the last 19th century era 2-8-0 built for the Pennsylvania Railroad. 
* The original H6 was the last freight locomotive designed by the Pennsylvania Railroad to have a narrow-belpaire firebox as the Pennsy switched to the wide-belpaire firebox completely after 1901. 
* The original H6 was the shortest lived of all the H6 series locomotives in general, although they were the first. 
* They were nicknamed "Smooth Bores".
* Only a few of the original H6 locomotives outlasted the class as being rebuilt locomotives to other specs, such as those with rebuilt widths of their fireboxes or superheated rebuilds.
Category:2-8-0 steam locomotives
Category:2-8-0 locomotives
Category:Pennsylvania locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives
Category:Steam locomotives of the United States
Category:Built in 1899
Category:Built in 1900
Category:Built in 1901
Category:Altoona Works locomotives
Category:Juniata Works locomotives
Category:Baldwin locomotives
Category:Juniata locomotives
Category:4 foot 8 1⁄2 inch gauge
Category:Freight locomotives
Category:Pusher engines
Category:Standard gauge locomotives
Category:Standard gauge locomotives of the United States
Category:Scrapped steam locomotives
Category:Scrapped locomotives
Category:Tender locomotives
Category:Tender Engines