Passenger Locomotive No. 7002
Why it's listed
Built in 1902 at the Juniata Shops in Altoona, this 4-4-2 Atlantic was designed for the Pennsylvania Railroad's express passenger service. The E Class Atlantics were developed after the 4-4-0 reached its practical limits of size and capacity at the turn of the century, and standard Atlantics began leaving Juniata's erecting shop in 1901. This engine was originally numbered 8063. After the Chicago Railroad Fair of 1948, the railroad set it aside to stand for the historic locomotive 7002. In 1905, the #7002 hauled the Pennsylvania Special at a recorded 127.2 miles per hour between AY Tower and Elida, Ohio, and covered the 131 miles from Crestline, Ohio to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1 hour, 54 minutes and 30 seconds. The nomination treats the locomotive as the fastest and heaviest power on the railroad's finest passenger trains of its era, and as the only surviving example of its class.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the locomotive represents the fastest and heaviest motive power that hauled the Pennsylvania Railroad's finest passenger trains at the turn of the century. It notes that the #7002 hauled the Pennsylvania Special at a record 127.2 miles per hour in 1905, though this locomotive is not that record engine. It is described as the only known surviving example of its class.
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 79002275, 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 | 79002275 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1902 |
| Architect / builder | Juniata Shops, Altoona |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Invention |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Part of a thematic group of rolling stock housed on sheltered track and outside 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 79002275.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7120457
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.