Reading Railroad #1187 is an 0-4-0 "Camelback" style steam locomotive that was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1903 for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad.
This style of locomotive was designed to burn anthracite coal, which created the unique "Camelback" style of operations where the engineer was on the side of the boiler in the center of the locomotive and the fireman was in his normal position shoveling coal into the large firebox.
The #1187 was sold to the E & G Brook Iron Company in Pennsylvania where it was renumbered #4 and served as a switcher from 1946 until 1962. This makes this locomotive the last Camelback Steam Locomotive to operate in regular Interstate Commerce Commission Service.
In 1962 the Camelback traveled under steam to its next owner, the Strasburg Railroad in Strasburg Pennsylvania. From 1962 until 1967, the locomotive was on the operating roster at Strasburg. Since 1967, the locomotive has been in various stages of display in Strasburg awaiting a future cosmetic or operational restoration.
In July of 2020, the Reading #1187 Camelback was purchased by the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugar Creek, Ohio. The locomotive will be cosmetically restored and displayed in the impressive 18-stall roundhouse and steam locomotive shop complex that was completed in 2012.
Below are some photos I took during a WWII era Photo Shoot at Strasburg Railroad that was arranged by Pete Lerro in 2018. The #1187 was used in the background of several photos staged in the yard.
Full press release and more info---> www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/aosrhm-acquires-1187/
This style of locomotive was designed to burn anthracite coal, which created the unique "Camelback" style of operations where the engineer was on the side of the boiler in the center of the locomotive and the fireman was in his normal position shoveling coal into the large firebox.
The #1187 was sold to the E & G Brook Iron Company in Pennsylvania where it was renumbered #4 and served as a switcher from 1946 until 1962. This makes this locomotive the last Camelback Steam Locomotive to operate in regular Interstate Commerce Commission Service.
In 1962 the Camelback traveled under steam to its next owner, the Strasburg Railroad in Strasburg Pennsylvania. From 1962 until 1967, the locomotive was on the operating roster at Strasburg. Since 1967, the locomotive has been in various stages of display in Strasburg awaiting a future cosmetic or operational restoration.
In July of 2020, the Reading #1187 Camelback was purchased by the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugar Creek, Ohio. The locomotive will be cosmetically restored and displayed in the impressive 18-stall roundhouse and steam locomotive shop complex that was completed in 2012.
Below are some photos I took during a WWII era Photo Shoot at Strasburg Railroad that was arranged by Pete Lerro in 2018. The #1187 was used in the background of several photos staged in the yard.
Full press release and more info---> www.ageofsteamroundhouse.org/aosrhm-acquires-1187/
A WWII era US Army Transportation Corp. photography event in 2018 featured Canadian National Steam Locomotive #89 under steam to the left, and Reading Railroad Camelback #1187 to the right.
Canadian National #89 appears as "US Army Transporation Corp. #89" during a WWII era photography event coordinated by Pete Lerro. Reading Railroad "Camelback" #1187 appears to the left as a track gang is hard at work.
A WWII era US Army Transportation Corp. photography event in 2018 featured Canadian National Steam Locomotive #89 under steam to the left, and Reading Railroad Camelback #1187 to the right.
