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The Allegheny Locomotive

Among the largest and most powerful steam locomotives ever built

Why is it called the “Allegheny”?

The H-8 class was designed to haul heavy trains over the steep grades of the Allegheny Mountains—especially the route between Hinton, West Virginia and Clifton Forge, Virginia.

How many were originally made? How many are still in existence?

Lima Locomotive Works, of Lima, Ohio, made 60 Alleghenies for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway from 1941-1948, and locomotive #1601 was the second one built. The Virginian Railway purchased 8 Alleghenies from Lima Locomotive works in 1945. Only 2 Alleghenies survive: 1601, here at The Henry Ford, and 1604, at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Allegheny at the Museum

What are the size, speed, strength and original cost of the Allegheny?

The Allegheny is 125-ft long, 11-ft 2-in wide, 16-ft 5 ½-in tall and weighs approximately 771,000-lbs. It could pull 160 coal cars, each with a 60-ton load, and if only pulling passenger cars, could run at 60 mph. 1601’s original price was $230,663.

When were the Alleghenies retired?

The C&O began replacing these steam locomotives with diesels in 1952; all were retired by 1956. 1601 was donated to The Henry Ford and was presented on July 9, 1956.

How did they get it into the museum?

1601 was brought up to the Detroit area “cold” (not under its own power) on the rear of a C&O freight train. It took three attempts to get 1601 into the museum. On the first attempt the locomotive derailed on the railroad tracks behind the museum. After removing its main and side rods it was time for a second attempt. This time the locomotive made it as far as the museum’s railroad door but was unable to pass through, even though the door had been widened to accommodate it. The problem was the switch just inside the building—as 1601 started to pass over this switch its articulation caused the cab to swing over much further than anticipated. On the third attempt, following temporary modifications and component removals, the Allegheny finally passed through the door and took its place in the museum’s main exhibition hall.

Allegheny Locomotive

Further Reading

  • Huddleston, Eugene L. and Thomas W. Dixon Jr. The Allegheny: Lima’s Finest. (Edmonds, Wash.: Hundman Publishing, 1984).
  • Huddleston, Eugene L. “Doctoring the Scales: The Case of the Overweight Alleghenies.” Trains, Vol. 58, no. 12 (December 1998): 78-85.
  • ————. World’s Greatest Locomotives: C&O 2-6-6-6, Virginian 2-6-6-6, N&W 2-6-6-4, UP 4-8-8-4. (Lynchburg, Va.: TLC Publishing and Clifton Forge, Va.: C&O Historical Society, 2001).

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Artifacts Related to The Allegheny Locomotive

Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941
Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941
Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941
Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941 (interior)
Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941 (detail)
Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941
Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941 (detail)
Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941 (interior)

Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941

The Henry Ford   Details

Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Steam locomotive

Date Made

1941

Summary

The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway's massive Allegheny, introduced in 1941, represents the peak of steam technology. Among the largest and most powerful steam locomotives ever built, it weighed 1.2 million pounds with its tender and could generate 7,500 horsepower. Just 11 years later, though, the C&O began pulling these giants from service. Diesel locomotives proved more flexible and less expensive.

Creators

Lima Locomotive Works, Incorporated 

Place of Creation

United States, Ohio, Lima 

Keywords

United States, Allegheny Mountains 

United States, Kentucky 

United States, Virginia 

United States, West Virginia 

Locomotives 

Steam locomotives 

Railroad trains 

Coal 

Ore industry 

Railroads (Infrastructure) 

Allegheny (Steam locomotive) 

Object ID

56.50.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.

Henry Ford Museum
 On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in Transportation - Trains

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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Details
Third Attempt to Move the "Allegheny" Locomotive into Henry Ford Museum, 1956

Third Attempt to Move the "Allegheny" Locomotive into Henry Ford Museum, 1956

The Henry Ford   Details

Third Attempt to Move the "Allegheny" Locomotive into Henry Ford Museum, 1956

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Negative (Photograph)

Date Made

06 September 1956

Summary

The former Chesapeake & Ohio Railway 2-6-6-6 Allegheny locomotive is one of the most popular objects in Henry Ford Museum. It was also one of the most difficult to install. The door had to be enlarged and parts had to be removed from the locomotive before it could be squeezed into the museum.

Creators

Henry Ford (Organization). Photographic Department 

Place of Creation

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Keywords

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Negatives (Photographs) 

Photographs 

Locomotives 

Museums 

Henry Ford (Organization). Henry Ford Museum 

Object ID

EI.1929.N.B.13537

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Related Objects

Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

Third Attempt to Move the "Allegheny" Locomotive into Henry Ford Museum, 1956

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

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Details
"Allegheny" and "Sam Hill" Locomotives and Replica "DeWitt Clinton" Locomotive and Coaches in Greenfield Village, 1956-1958
"Allegheny" and "Sam Hill" Locomotives and Replica "DeWitt Clinton" Locomotive and Coaches in Greenfield Village, 1956-1958 (back(

"Allegheny" and "Sam Hill" Locomotives and Replica "DeWitt Clinton" Locomotive and Coaches in Greenfield Village, 1956-1958

The Henry Ford   Details

"Allegheny" and "Sam Hill" Locomotives and Replica "DeWitt Clinton" Locomotive and Coaches in Greenfield Village, 1956-1958

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

Artifact

Photographic print

Date Made

1956-1958

Summary

Three generations of American steam locomotive development contrast dramatically at Greenfield Village. The replica of the 1831 DeWitt Clinton represents the earliest days. The 1858 Sam Hill characterizes locomotives of the mid nineteenth century. The mammoth 1941 Allegheny symbolizes the peak of steam locomotive technology. Larger size brought greater power, and the Allegheny reached the practical limits of both.

Creators

Henry Ford (Organization). Photographic Department 

Place of Creation

United States, Michigan, Dearborn 

Keywords

Photographic prints 

Photographs 

Open-air museums 

Railroad trains 

Steam locomotives 

Dewitt Clinton (Steam locomotive) 

Henry Ford (Organization). Greenfield Village 

Object ID

EI.1929.P.B.12920

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Related Objects

Allegheny Steam Locomotive, 1941

Details

Steam Locomotive "Sam Hill," 1858

Details

Replica of 1831 "DeWitt Clinton" Steam Locomotive

Details

Get more details in Digital Collections at:

thehenryford.org

"Allegheny" and "Sam Hill" Locomotives and Replica "DeWitt Clinton" Locomotive and Coaches in Greenfield Village, 1956-1958

View in our Collectionson thehenryford.org 

What is The Henry Ford?

The national attraction for discovering your ingenuity while exploring America’s spirit of innovation. There is always much to see and do at The Henry Ford.

VIEW CALENDAR

 
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Email

  • Embed

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Details
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