same controls as usual
The Pennsylvania Railroad's class I1s steam locomotives were the largest class of 2-10-0 "Decapods" in the United States, with 598 built 1916–1923 (Altoona: 123, Baldwin: 475). They were the dominant freight locomotive on the system until World War II, and they remained in service until the end of PRR steam in 1957. Nicknames for the type included Decs and Hippos, the latter due to the large boiler. Unlike smaller 2-10-0s that preceded them, the I1s design was huge, taking advantage of the PRR's heavy trackage and high allowed axle load, with a wide, free-steaming boiler. Large cylinders enabled the I1s to apply that power to the rails. However, the large boiler limited the size of the driving wheels, which made it impossible to mount counterweights large enough to balance the piston thrusts. As a result, they were hard riding at anything but low speeds and prone to slipping, and not popular with crews.[1] Their power was undeniable, with one author describing them as "the holy terror of the PRR". Subclass I1sa increased maximum steam cut-off to admit steam for 78% of the piston stroke (rather than the original 50%), boosting low speed tractive effort from 90,000 to 96,000 pounds-force (400 to 430 kN). There was no obvious external difference except for a revised builders' plate (and of course the revised combination lever). I1s locomotives were converted to I1sa during major overhauls; eventually 489 were converted while 109 remained as built. Of the nearly 600 class I1 locomotives built for the Pennsy, a sole example, #4483, survived the scrapper's torch. Built by Baldwin in May 1923, the locomotive was retired in August 1957 after 34 years of service. Following then Chief of Motive Power Hal T. Cover's instructions, the railroad moved the engine to its roundhouse in Northumberland, PA, along with several other retired steam locomotives labeled for preservation. There the engine sat until 1963, when the PRR sold it to the Westinghouse Air Brake Company (WABCO) and moved the engine to Wilmerding, PA. WABCO had originally sought a railroad-themed display for its headquarters to commemorate its heritage of supplying air brakes to America's railroads. saw little maintenance during its life as a display piece for the company and its condition deteriorated significantly, although the boiler's asbestos cladding was removed.
