Freight Locomotive No. 5741
Why it's listed
Built in 1924 at the Pennsylvania Railroad's Juniata Shops, Freight Locomotive No. 5741 is a Class G5s 4-6-0 ten-wheeler. Between 1923 and 1925 the shops built 90 of these engines for both freight and passenger service, and the class was used across the railroad system but chiefly in the Western Region, where it hauled heavy Pittsburgh-area commuter trains. The G5s is described as the heaviest and most powerful 4-6-0 ever built, with a design suited to rapid starts on local runs with short trains. This locomotive is the only surviving example of its class. It is preserved in Strasburg, Lancaster County, and is part of a larger group of historically important rolling stock that includes locomotives and cars from the Pennsylvania Railroad collection. The engine's significance rests on its rarity and on its representation of the class.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the G5s as the heaviest and most powerful 4-6-0 ever built, and states that it was used mainly in the Pittsburgh area to handle heavy commuter volume. The form states this locomotive is the only extant example of its class. The engine is also presented as one of a variety of historically significant rolling stock examples, all genuine rather than replicas.
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 79002268, 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 | 79002268 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Pennsylvania Railroad (Juniata Shops), as the builder |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Invention |
| Level of significance | National |
| 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 79002268.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q20822047
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.