Switcher No. 1670
Why it's listed
Built at the Pennsylvania Railroad's Juniata Shops in February 1916, Switcher #1670 is a Class B6sb six-wheel yard engine with a 0-6-0 wheel arrangement. The B6sb was an updated version of the B6, and more than 238 were built at Juniata between 1916 and 1926. The B6 type served as the workhorse of railroad yards, and the last working example was removed from the roster in 1957. Switcher #1670 is recorded as the only surviving example of its class. It is held at Strasburg, Lancaster County, as part of a group of Pennsylvania Railroad rolling stock that was entered on the National Register as a thematic resource. The group includes passenger, freight and switching locomotives and several cars, including an 1855 Cumberland car and an 1886 coach. The locomotive is significant because it preserves an engine type that otherwise survives only in the form of this single example.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the B6 as the most common style of twentieth-century American yard engine and the workhorse of the yards, with the last working engine removed from the roster in 1957. It states that Switcher #1670 is the only known example of this class. The locomotive is presented as part of a varied group of historically significant rolling stock, and the form notes that all of the cars in the group are 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 79002280, 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 | 79002280 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1916 |
| Architect / builder | Juniata Shops, Pennsylvania Railroad |
| 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 79002280.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q79451636
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.