Baldwin Locomotive Works 4-10-2 No. 60000
Philadelphia, PA, United States 		Location: Franklin Institute
Status: Display
Posted: Feb 12, 2019 @ 16:02:36 by Matthew Gardner
The 60,000 is an experimental Watertube boiler steam engine that was designed by Samuel Vulclain, the owner and president of the Baldwin works. He wanted to prove to the public that compound expansion, as well as watertube boilers could be made to work on railroad locomotives. This engine was actually the only North American engine to make both of these concepts work successfully. It ran on the Pennsylvania Railroad test plant and main line, Baltimore & Ohio, Chicago Burlington & Quincy, Great Northern, Santa Fe, and Southern Pacific Railroads, the last of which it was converted to oil firing. It was proved it was a better steamer on coal. However, it only ran into 1927. It was returned to Baldwin after being converted back to coal. Oh, it was also run in tandem with engines from several of the roads, and proved to be superior to them all. However, it still did not convince the railroads to buy locomotives to these designs. For you see, they were already convinced they were bad ideas due to so many previous engines being complete failures. So, the engine sat in the plant and was used as a stationary boilr until 1933, when, in the middle of the great depression, when Mr. Vulclain realized that no one would buy such an orphan of an engine, he was going to get rid of it, when he heard of the Franklin Institute wanting a large engine for the train factory. So, he decided to be generous and sold the engine to them for 1 dollar. It took 5 days to move the engine 5 blocks over light trolley tracks, and finally, the engine was rolled into the uncompleted building, and has remained there ever since.
Posted: Nov 29, 2014 @ 06:11:50 by Doug Bailey
The anonymous poster below is quite correct. The 60000 was built as a coal burner, briefly converted to oil in the 1930s and subsequently restored to coal burning for the remainder of its carrer. The database and website have been adjusted accordingly.
Posted: Nov 26, 2014 @ 14:11:02 by
fuel should be changed to coal.
Posted: Aug 19, 2004 @ 23:08:19 by Christopher
The 60,000 is housed at the Franklin Institute and thheir entire railroad exhibit has undergone extensive renovations in the past year or so. The 60,000, which WAS built in the 20's as a three cylinder compound, still moves although only a few feet back and forth with the help of massive hydrolic pistons. I must say my love of steam started with this very engine which you can explore and see the firetube boiler through the firebox door. My must also add that the changes done to the display have drastically reduced it's historic nature and has dumbed down this beauty in a mock pressure experiment( A story plays over the speakers installed withing the tender and cab that the engine is at a test facility and is attempting to run at a high pressure). I must also correct the data, the 60,000 burned soft coal, as can be proved by her double mechanical stokers and the coal dust which is still inside the small openings. All of my info can ber verified at the following link; http://www.cwrr.com/Lounge/Reference/baldwin/part01.html
Posted: Oct 14, 2003 @ 16:10:43 by moonshine

Peace,

 

ok lets talk Baldwin now :)

she was the ONLY one of her class made.

 

Baldwin wanted to test a new steam loco to out beat the diesel. as soon as they came up with the design most other American railroads switched diesel. and when a test was done ona  live scale model she was a very new. roller bearings, up to date steam generation techniques, etc. and she rana  few runs on a coupel railroads.

not sure how many or which ones but i think she did a out standing performance. many railroads IF they were still in steam city they would of loved her for there fast heavy freight and long speedy passenger trains. i think she was built in the mid 40's? not 20's becuase she was built to compete with the diesels. and she was jsut a super modern verson of railroad power for hte 40's.that is why she looks so brand spankin new! yes the cosmetic restoration yes but ither they did a excelent job OR the railroad kept her same 'under there sheets'.

 

Later

 

p.s. i am no plain steam buff I know more about steamers then many people who are 50+ i may be wrong about the build date though.