| Beautiful example of an early streamlined steam locomotive but now near its end. Alfred Bruce (The Steam Locomotive in America, 1952, 292-293) describes the performance of this Alco product as: "Their ample boiler capacity, 19 x 28 cylinders, 84" drivers, and 300 psi made them about the highest-speed steam locomotive engines ever constructed. During the time-schedule stabilizing runs, the hand of the speed indicator was often reported against the pin at 128 miles per hour. Exactly what maximum speed was reached is not known - but it was plenty!" For comparison, 128 mph is two miles per hour faster than the 126 mph the LNER's Mallard achieved in 1937 for the highest officially recognized speed posted by a steam locomotive. Chas. K. Willhoft photo |