Pennsylvania Railroad 2-8-0 # 1187. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Strasburg Pennsylvania USA. August 1990.

I took this photo in the Grand Hall at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania back in August of 1990. This locomotive, was built in the 1880's, and is an example of how steam locomotives were becoming larger and heavier as the 1800's progressed. Locomotives from the mid to late 1800's in America, were rather lightweight and diminutive by todays standards. By the 1870's, freight and passenger trains were becoming longer and heavier. This 2-8-0 type, is an example of a Purpose Built locomotive used primarilly in freight train service, as evidenced by the larger boiler and small diameter driving wheels needed for torque. In the era of wooden freight cars, this locomotive was the EMD GP-7 of the late 1800's era Victorian Times. It was later repaced by larger and heavier locomotives.