Union Transportation 4-4-0 "American" Locomotives in the USA

Class 4 (Locobase 11558)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 20, p. 76; Volume 26, p. 22; Volume 31, p. 160;and Volume 62, p. 109. See also the Hobo's Guide to the Pennsy's detailed description by Bill McBride of the P&H at [] . (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his 14 May 2023 email noting the taller trivers and lower tender capacity and weight. Locobase added entry 16637 to reflect the one significant differencee between the 4 and the others.) Works numbers were 14606 in January 1896.

These little Eight-wheelers were built to a common design that differed little for 23 years, except for the 6" (152 mm) taller drivers in this engine. The 4 also trailed a lighter, smaller tander than the others would when they joined the lead engine in 1903, 1908, and 1919. The specification called for "plenty of room between cab and tank."

The 24.4-mile (39.2 km) Pemberton & Hightstown Railroad, also known by its owner's name as Union Transportation, connected two anchors in New Jersey's farm belt east of Trenton. It was a key route for farmer to receive goods, ship their products, and travel for their own business or pleasure.

The Hobo's Guide explains why this service remained unchanged for so long:"No single or combination of products appeared to dominate, thus allowing the UT to rely on a tradition of mixed train service for some 43 years. Typical freight included milk, cranberries, hay, and straw. Freight extras ran to accommodate excess loading of gravel, and later potato and tomato crops for Campbell's Soup Company in Camden, New Jersey."

Long overseen by the Pennsylvania, although controlled by UT, the P&H was nominally merged in 1915 with the Philadelphia & Long Branch and the Kinkora & New Lisbon as the Pennsylvania & Atlantic. The locomotives were lettered as Union Transportation. Taken together, the P&A measured 83.4 miles (134.3 km).

A key stop was Wrightstown, which was the closest to Fort Dix.

The 1919 order reflected the P&A merger in its specification of "PRR Standard" components such as cylinder and gauge cocks and the stack top. It also weighed a little more--65,000 lb (29,484 kg) on the drivers, 96,000 lb (43,545 kg) overall.

Some of the quartet (most likely the 4 for much of the time) hauled the passenger locals until the early 30s, when the passenger business was shut down. .But the 4 had already meat the ferroknacker's torch in 1920 at Sharon.

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Class 5 (Locobase 16637)

Data from Baldwin Locomotive Works Specification for Engines as digitized by the DeGolyer Library of Southern Methodist University Volume 26, p. 22, and Volumel 62, p. 109. See also the Hobo's Guide to the Pennsy's detailed description by Bill McBride of the P&H at [] . (Thanks to Chris Hohl for his `14 May 2023 email noting key differences in driver diameter, engine weights, and tank capacity which led to the creation of this new entry.) Works numbers were 23054 in October 1903, 32597 in January 1908, 52294 in September 1919.

See Locobase 11558 for a descripton of this small New Jersey railroad.

In many respects, the 5 repeated the specifications used to build the class leader, which arrived in 1893 (Locobase 11558). Two changes distinguished the last three from the 4, one being the 6" (152 mm) smaller drivers, the other adding tender water capacity.

These little Eight-wheelers were built to a common design that differed little for 23 years. The 1919 order for the #1 (later renumbered 7) reflected the P&A merger in its specification of "PRR Standard" components such as cylinder and gauge cocks and the stack top. It also weighed a little more--65,000 lb (29,484 kg) on the drivers, 96,000 lb (43,545 kg) overall. Its tender tank held 3,500 US gallons (13,248 litres).

Some of the quartet hauled the passenger locals until the early 30s, when the passenger business was shut down. Some remained in service into World War Two. It was retired in 1928. The 6 soldiered on into the World War II era before being sold to Frank Millner for scrap at New Egypt, NJ.in 1942. 7 was the only engine to see out the war, but barely; it was scrapped at New Egypt in November 1945.