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Bessemer & Lake Erie 2-10-4 643: A Steely Giant

Last revised: September 18, 2024

By: Adam Burns

Bessemer and Lake Erie 2-10-4 #643 stands as a testament to American industrial might and the crucial role railroads played in its rise.

This powerful "Texas" type locomotive, built in 1944, represents the pinnacle of steam technology tailored to a specific purpose: hauling iron ore and coal between the Great Lakes and the hungry blast furnaces of Pennsylvania.

Even with the advent of diesel technology the B&LE held onto two of their steam engines, #643 and 2-8-0 #154, rather than sending them to the scrapyard. These locomotives were tucked away safely in the B&LE roundhouse in Greenville, Pennsylvania, intended as future donations to museums.

By the early 1980s, the B&LE decided it was time to let go of these pieces of history and auctioned off both. Steamtown, then located in Bellows Falls, Vermont, had their eye on #643. Their plan was to bring it to Bellows Falls for static display and eventually move it with the rest of their collection to Scranton.

However, their hopes were dashed when Glenn Campbell, who planned to restore #643 to full working order for excursion service, outbid them. In 1983, he moved the locomotive to the old Union Railroad shop in Hall for storage until he could purchase the former B&LE shops in McKees Rocks.

By 1993 Campbell was finally able to move the engine to this location.  Despite his best efforts the big engine never actually achieved operational status.  It spent nearly three decades stored on a siding before it was finally acquired by the Age of Steam Roundhouse in August, 2019 as part of the late founder Jerry Jacobson's longtime interest in acquiring the big 2-10-4.

The B&LE retained two steamers upon retirement; 2-10-4 #643 - seen here at the Greenville, PA roundhouse on July 11, 1974 - and 2-8-0 #154. The 600s were the largest and most powerful steamers on the Bessemer. Both were later sold, the #643 to a private individual for restoration, and #154 to the Illinois Railway Museum. Today, #643 is owned by the Age of Steam Roundhouse. Doug Kroll photo.

Origins In Iron and Industry

To understand #643, one must first understand the Bessemer & Lake Erie (B&LE). Founded in 1897, the B&LE was no ordinary railroad. It was conceived as an industrial lifeline, connecting the iron ore mines of Minnesota's Mesabi Range with the steel mills of Pittsburgh. Andrew Carnegie, the steel magnate, played a pivotal role in the railroad's formation, recognizing its strategic importance in controlling the flow of raw materials.

The B&LE's mainline stretched for 157 miles along the shores of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania, connecting the port of Conneaut, where ore arrived by ship, to the steel towns south of Pittsburgh. This route, characterized by challenging grades and curves, demanded powerful locomotives capable of hauling immense loads.

The B&LE Texas Types: Power on Rails

As the demand for steel surged in the early 20th century, the B&LE continually sought more powerful locomotives. This led them to the 2-10-4 "Texas" type, a wheel arrangement ideally suited for heavy freight service.

The "Texas" designation referred to the arrangement of wheels: two small leading wheels for stability, ten massive driving wheels for traction, and four trailing wheels to support the large firebox needed to generate immense steam pressure.

The first 2-10-4s arrived on the B&LE in 1929, built largely by the Baldwin Locomotive Works with a few examples also manufactured by American Locomotive (Alco). These locomotives, numbered in the 600 series, proved their worth, hauling ever-increasing tonnages of iron ore.

Through 1944 the B&LE acquired a total of 47 "Texas Types" which it designated as the H-1 Class.  This group was divided into seven subclasses:

• **H-1a:** A single prototype, No. 601, built in 1929.
• **H-1b:** Nine locomotives, Nos. 602-610, built in 1930.
• **H-1c:** Ten locomotives, Nos. 611-620, built in 1936.
• **H-1d:** Ten locomotives, Nos. 621-630, built in 1937.  Only group produced by Alco.
• **H-1e:** Five locomotives, Nos. 631-635, built in 1941.
• **H-1f:** Two locomotives, Nos. 636 and 637, built in 1942.
• **H-1g:** Ten locomotives, Nos. 638-647, built in 1943 and 1944. No. 643 was part of this final subclass.

While the design remained largely consistent across subclasses, there were variations in weight due to the use of cast steel frames and different alloys in their construction:

• H-1a and H-1b: 502,630 pounds
• H-1c: 519,840 pounds
• H-1d: 520,000 pounds
• H-1e: 519,740 pounds
• H-1f: 524,382 pounds
• H-1g: 523,600 pounds

These locomotives were truly impressive machines. With a tractive force of 102,106 pounds, a boiler pressure of 250 pounds per square inch, and an average weight of over 500,000 pounds, they were among the largest and most powerful non-articulated steam locomotives ever built in the United States.

The H-1 series was put to work hauling heavy freight on the B&LE, primarily transporting iron ore from lake freighters docked on eastern Lake Erie to the hungry steel mills in the Pittsburgh area. They then returned to the lakefront hauling coal trains, completing the cycle.

Specifications

The Diesel Transition and a Second Life

The end of World War II brought significant changes to the railroad industry. Diesels, with their increased efficiency and lower maintenance requirements, began to replace steam power. The B&LE was no exception, and by the mid-1950s, the writing was on the wall for the mighty 2-10-4s.

In 1951, the railroad decided to sell eighteen of their H-1 locomotives to the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway (DM&IR). These locomotives were reclassified as E-4s, E-5s, E-6s, and E-7s and renumbered 700-717. #643, however, remained with the B&LE.

By the end of 1952, all of the B&LE's H-1s, despite being capable and relatively modern steam engines, had made their final revenue freight runs and had their fires extinguished for the last time. The era of steam was coming to a close.

Preservation and Recognition

Following #643's acquisition by the Age of Steam Roundhouse the company was still presented with a logistical challenge of moving the engine.  Its location at the McKees Rocks Yard was landlocked, requiring #643 to be disassembled for transport by truck.

The boiler was separated from the frame and running gear, with the tender, headlight, and other appliances making the journey to Sugarcreek first. In late January 2024, the boiler and frame of No. 643 followed suit.

Loaded onto a flatcar, they traveled via CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway, finally arriving at the Age of Steam Roundhouse. 

More Than Just Steel

The story of #643 is not just about steel and steam. It's a story about American ingenuity, the importance of railroads in shaping the nation, and the dedication of the men and women who kept them running. It's a story of power, progress, and the enduring legacy of a bygone era.

Visiting the #643 today offers a tangible connection to that past. Standing before its massive frame, one can almost hear the hiss of steam, the clang of couplings, and the roar of its exhaust as it thundered along the shores of Lake Erie, a testament to the power and importance of the "Iron Highway."