Texas & Pacific Steam Locomotive No. 610
Why it's listed
Texas & Pacific No. 610 is a 725,200-pound steam locomotive built in 1927 by the Lima Locomotive Works of Ohio. It has a 2-10-4 wheel arrangement, the first used on an American railroad, with a four-wheel trailing truck that allowed a larger firebox and higher boiler pressure. The engine was designed for heavy freight hauls between Texarkana and El Paso and carried distinctive Texas & Pacific features, including a feed-water heater, square sand domes and nickel silver cylinder heads. Of seventy engines in the class, it alone survives, and it is one of only two remaining T&P steam locomotives. It ran more than 1.15 million miles before retirement in 1950, then was given to Fort Worth civic leader Amon Carter, Sr. and displayed in Will Rogers Park. A foundation formed in 1969 restored it, and in 1976 it pulled the American Freedom Train through Texas.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving engine of the railroad's seventy 2-10-4 locomotives and one of only two remaining T&P steam locomotives. The 2-10-4 wheel arrangement was the first of its kind on an American railroad, built for heavy freight between Texarkana and El Paso. After restoration it was expected to be the largest operating steam locomotive in the world and to pull the American Freedom Train through Texas.
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 77001477, listed March 25, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Felix and Hemphill Sts., Fort Worth |
|---|---|
| County | Tarrant County |
| Listed | March 25, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001477 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1927 |
| Architect / builder | Lima Locomotive Works |
| Architectural style | "Texas Type" 2-10-4 steam locomotive |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Transportation, Invention |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1975-76 and used to pull the Freedom Train through Texas; afterward stored temporarily in a federal warehouse in Fort Worth while a permanent site was sought. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.78914, -97.34447 (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 77001477.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7708225
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.