Passenger Locomotive No. 1737
Why it's listed
Built at the Pennsylvania Railroad's Juniata Shops, Locomotive #1737 was the first of the Class K4 Pacific-type passenger engines, a 4-6-2 design with 27-inch by 28-inch cylinders and 80-inch drivers. The K4 became the railroad's principal passenger locomotive from 1914 into the early 1950s, and 425 were built, most at Juniata. Its 205-pound boiler pressure, 1,215 square feet of superheating surface and 44,460 pounds of tractive force made it a strong and reliable hauler for long-distance trains. The form regards the K4 as America's most famous Pacific type and perhaps the most successful passenger engine built by the railroad. The original #1737 deteriorated beyond preservation, so Engine #3750, fitted with the original tender and number plates, was selected as a stand-in. The listing rests on the class's historic importance to Pennsylvania Railroad passenger service.
Significance in brief: The form describes the Class K4 as the principal passenger hauler of the Pennsylvania Railroad from 1914 into the early 1950s, with 425 built, most at the Juniata Shops. It calls the K4 America's most famous Pacific type and perhaps the most successful passenger engine the railroad built. The original #1737 deteriorated beyond preservation, and the surviving display engine is a stand-in.
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 79002273, 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 | 79002273 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Architect / builder | Juniata Shops (Pennsylvania Railroad) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Invention |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The original #1737 deteriorated past preservation; Engine #3750 was selected as a stand-in and fitted with the original tender and number plates. |
| 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 79002273.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7120446
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.