Consolidation Freight Locomotive No. 2846
Why it's listed
Built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia in November 1905, locomotive No. 2846 is a 2-8-0 Consolidation-type freight engine of the Class H6sb. It weighs 93 tons and has 22 by 28 inch cylinders and 56 inch drivers. The H6 design, first produced for the Pennsylvania Railroad around 1899 to 1901, was modified into the wider-firebox H6a and then into the H6b with piston valves and Walschaert valve gear in 1905. Baldwin, Juniata Shops and Alco produced a total of 1,835 H6a and H6b engines between 1901 and 1913. Locomotive 2846 was among those fitted with a superheater, which extended its service into the later steam era. It is regarded as the only surviving engine of this type and is kept in its working condition rather than restored. The nomination treats it as a rare survival from the railroad's steam developmental period, when the system moved from steam to diesel by 1940.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the locomotive is the only remaining example of its type and a fine representative of the H6 class, which was the workhorse of the Pennsylvania Railroad system. It is described as being in working condition and not overly restored. It is part of a thematic group of Pennsylvania Railroad rolling stock nominated as important to the history of railroading in Pennsylvania and the United States.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79002263, listed December 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | E of Strasburg, Strasburg |
|---|---|
| County | Lancaster County |
| Listed | December 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002263 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1905 |
| Architect / builder | Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Invention |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Presently in work-a-day condition, housed on track at Strasburg. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.98242, -76.16077 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79002263.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q20822041
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.