![]() Epstein, Special Projects Manager and vice president, Raymond Loewy & Assoc., these four streamlined K4s were designed by Raymond Loewy but, due to WWII, there was no publicity about it. These four locomotives were streamlined in 19 with simpler, closer-fitting casings that hid less of the steam locomotives' workings, In that sense, they were similar to Henry Dreyfuss's casings for NYC Hudsons. The 3768 renumbered as 3763 can be seen in the film Broadway Limited. ![]() The 3768 can be seen in action in the 1945 film, The Great Flamarion. For a time, the locomotive was the preferred engine for the Broadway Limited. Like most streamlined steam locomotives, the shrouds impeded maintenance and the covers over the wheels were later removed. A matching tender ran on unusual six-wheel trucks. Of 24 variations, 4 were chosen for wind tunnel tests to determine the final design.Īt first, the locomotive was not painted in standard Dark Green Locomotive Enamel (DGLE) but instead in a bronze color. Clay models of Loewy's design streamlined K4s and conventional K4s were tested in a wind tunnel for smoke-lifting ability by Alexander Klemin of the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aeronautics of New York University (CMP). This was a very concealing, enveloping streamlined casing which hid most of the functionality of the steam locomotive, leading to its nickname of "The Torpedo" by train crews. Locomotive #3768 was clad in a shroud designed by famed industrial designer Raymond Loewy in February 1936. All were later removed, restoring the locomotives to their original appearance. The PRR experimented extensively with its K4s fleet, trying out streamlining, poppet valves, smoke deflectors, driving wheel types and others.Ī number of K4 locomotives had streamlining applied over the years, to varying degrees. The first 168 carried widely scattered road numbers as traditional for the PRR, but subsequent locomotives produced after 1920 were numbered in consecutive blocks. In 1917 Altoona's Juniata Shops started producing K4s in numbers. Partly, this was due to extensive testing, but wartime necessitated priority in construction to the L1s Mikado type for freight. Three years elapsed until production examples were built. London and North Eastern Railway Chief Mechanical Engineer Nigel Gresley incorporated much of the boiler design (including the tapered shape) into his famous Class A1 Pacific.Ī World War I era prototype had distinctive "chicken coop" slat pilots, while the Post-War versions had modern pilots. The K4s design was successful enough that it influenced other locomotive designs, and not only those of other PRR locomotives. Equipment on the prototype, built in 1914, was conservative and included a screw reverse (power reverse would soon be added), a small 70-P-70 tender holding only 7,000 US gallons (26,000 l) of water and 12½ tons of coal set up for hand firing, a wooden cowcatcher pilot, a square-cased, old-fashioned headlight and piston tailrods (soon to go). ![]() The boiler barrel was fatter than previous classes, and the increase in heating surface and boiler size gave the class good steam-generating capability. The K4s design increased grate area from previous classes' 55 to 70 sq ft (5.1 to 6.5 m 2). Also influential was Gibbs' design for the successful E6 4-4-2 "Atlantics", from which the K4s inherited its heat-treated, lightweight machinery, its cast-steel KW trailing truck, and much of its appearance. Some inspiration came from the large experimental K29s Pacific built in 1911 by the American Locomotive Company. Gibbs and Mechanical Engineer Axel Vogt, as one of a pair of classes with the L1s 2-8-2 "Mikado", sharing a boiler and other features. Wallis, assisted by Chief Mechanical Engineer Alfred W. The K4s was designed under the supervision of PRR Chief of Motive Power J.T.
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