Switcher No. 94
Why it's listed
Switcher No. 94 is a steam switching locomotive, Class A5, 0-4-0 wheel arrangement, built at the Pennsylvania Railroad's Juniata Shops in January 1917. Steam switchers had appeared on the railroad's roster around the time of the Civil War, and the A5 was one of several designs used. Forty-one were built in 1916-17 and six more in 1924, making 47 in the class. The engine has 20-by-24-inch cylinders, 50-inch drivers and a steam pressure of 185 pounds. Its specially designed tender was sloped to give the crew a clear view to the rear, but it carried only 5,700 gallons of water, which made the arrangement uneconomical. Most of the class worked along eastern waterfronts, especially at Philadelphia. Switcher No. 94 is the only surviving example of the class, which is why it was listed as part of a group of railroad rolling stock.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes it as a fine and only surviving example of the Class A5 switchers, one of a group of 47 built at Juniata Shops. It is part of a thematic group of Pennsylvania Railroad rolling stock nominated for representing the variety of historically significant rolling stock, many of which are the only surviving examples of their types. The form notes that the cars and locomotives are genuine, not 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 79002281, 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 | 79002281 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| 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 79002281.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q79449255
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.