Pennsylvania No. 1223

Pennsylvania Railroad No 1223 is a D16sb class 4-4-0 built in November 1905 by the Pennsylvania Railroad's Juniata Shops in Altoona, PA. This engine is the only preserved class D16sb. 1223 was originally built as a D16b. Between 1914 and 1920, 1223 was rebuilt with a superheater and was reclassified as a D16sb. 
By the early 1930s, 1223, along with sister locomotives 1035 and 5079, were the last surviving and operable D16sb locomotives, having been replaced on passenger trains and even local trains in favor of stronger and faster E6 Atlantics and K4 Pacifics. In 1936, 1223 was due for a "class repairs", meaning that the locomotive was due for a serious overhaul. At this point for the D16sbs, this would've meant retirement and scrapping. However, before a decision was made, a Pennsylvania Railroad official intervened, claiming he lived along one of the former lines 1223 operated on and suggested the locomotive be preserved. In 1937, 1223 was moved to the PRR's Altoona Shops for its overhaul. Following its overhaul it was "...practically new when she emerged from the Altoona Shops in pristine, modernized condition; resplendent in her passenger striping and it was at this time that she was paired with the tender she has to this day class 55P55a #4128." Following its 1937 shopping, 1223 operated on the Delmarva Division where it ran until it was retired in 1950. 1223 was placed into storage in Wilmington, Delaware for a few years before being moved to Northumberland, PA where it joined the rest of the PRR Historic Collection. 1223 was moved to the Strasburg Rail Road around 1961.
In 1965, 1223 was leased to the Strasburg Rail Road in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. By the 1970s and 1980s, the 1223 pulled the Strasburg's regular tourist trains. In 1985-1986, No 1223 double-headed with PRR E7 No. 7002 pulling excursions for the Strasburg Rail Road. In June 13, 1987 PRR No. 7002 hauled a special train to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of the Broadway Limited also PRR No. 1223 was there too. In 1989, Strasburg's newly acquired ultrasound device revealed that the firebox walls of both 1223 and 7002 were not thick enough to comply with the updated Federal Railroad Administration regulations, thus deeming the engines unsafe for operation. The locomotive was retired from excursion service the following year, along with 7002. It is still on static display at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, which has taken a firmer stance against loaning equipment to the Strasburg Rail Road for excursion service citing the risk of damage. 1223 remains at the museum forever or for a little while and this could take a while for a locomotive to get removed from its display as of 2021; it is unlikely to return to service.
==Trivia==
*This engine was featured in "Broadway Limited" (1941), and "Hello, Dolly!" (1969). When it was used for the latter it was painted up as New York Central & Hudson River Railroad (NYC&HR) #15 for the movie.
*1223 pulled a variety of special trains throughout its excursion career:
**The engine pulled the Santa Claus Special at Lancaster, PA annually in December from 1965-1968. Excursions stopped when ownership of 1223 was handed over to the Penn Central Transportation Company. Strasburg Rail Road then extended the lease on 1223 by 5 years once again.
**In June 1982, on the eve of the Strasburg Rail Road's 150th anniversary, 1223 was dressed up to represent the "Pennsylvania Special". This was the original name for the "Broadway Limited." The change was made so that people would not confuse it with it's sister train, the "Pennsylvania Limited."
*On December 17, 1979, 1223 was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as "Passenger Locomotive no. 1223" by the United States Department of the Interior.
*On June 4, 2010, 1223 was 'fired up' using pyrotechnics for a Lerro Productions photo charter.
==See also==
*PRR D16 Steam Locomotives, Website by Mark Cole
*The Strasburg Rail Road In Color by Kurt Bell and Jeremy Plant
*Gallery
Category:4-4-0 locomotives
Category:4-4-0 steam locomotives
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Category:Locomotives at the Altoona Shops Inspection Trip
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Category:Strasburg Railroad Engines
Category:Built in 1905
Category:Locomotives featured in media
Category:Pennsylvania locomotives
Category:Sole survivor
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Category:Juniata locomotives
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Category:Tuckerton Railroad
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Category:Preserved steam locomotives