“Look at that smokebox front!”

(Joe Suo Collection©.)

—The April 2019 entry of my Audio-Visual Designs black-and-white All-Pennsy Calendar is three of Pennsy’s “Texas” war-babies, the J-1 2-10-4s. The locomotives that taught Pennsy a thing-or-two, or so it seemed.
Pennsy was throwing so much into electrification, it didn’t develop modern steam-locomotives in the ‘30s. It usually did so on its own — it even had a testing department.
Pennsy was also conservative. “Gadgets,” as they called ‘em, that enhanced steam generation, were abhorred. Gizmos could put a locomotive outta service. Pennsy moved mountains of freight. Hundreds of locomotives had to be available.
When WWII broke out Pennsy had many old and tired steam-locomotives. It needed modern steam power, but couldn’t develop anything on-its-own. War restriction wouldn’t allow it.
They had to shop around. Two steam-locomotives were tested: Norfolk & Western’s fabulous A-1 articulateds, 2-6-6-4; plus Chesapeake & Ohio’s T-1 Texas, 2-10-4, built by American Locomotive Company (Alco), but a Lima SuperPower design.
The C&O steamer won, but Pennsy had already tried articulation, and weren’t impressed. They had to go with Chesapeake & Ohio’s T-1 Texan, but without modification. Mechanically it’s C&O’s Texas, with only small Pennsy styling fillips. It couldn’t have the square-shouldered Belpaire (“bell-PEAR”) firebox, the trademark of Pennsy steam.
What it did have was all the “gadgets” that came with SuperPower.
The train at left is stopped in siding to allow the train at right to pass. Everything is J-1; left was doubleheaded. The trains are on the Sandusky line in OH, delivering heavy coal-trains to Lake Erie. The passing train is returning empty for more coal.
Suddenly Pennsy was developing modern steam-locomotives replete with “gizmos.”
Every time I look at this picture: “Look at that smokebox front. It’s HUGE!“
SuperPower was developed by Lima Locomotive Works. A gigantic 100 square-foot fire-grate was allied with a gigantic boiler and combustion-chamber, all to not run outta steam at speed — a hot-rod steam-locomotive.
The first SuperPower locomotives were 2-8-4, named for the Berkshire mountains in western MA, where they triumphed.
2-10-4s were enlarged 2-8-4s, but got into heavy side-rod weight, which Norfolk & Western addressed with its articulated A-1.

• Lima Locomotive Works, in Lima OH, as in “lima-bean” — not “lee-muh.”
• A couple SuperPower Berkshires are left, and two are running. One A-1 remains, but has been retired after recent railfan service. All Pennsy Js were scrapped, as were all C&O T-1s.