A history of the renowned K4 steam locomotive, soon to be restored in Altoona

ALTOONA, Pa. (WJAC) — In a time when themes of remerging, resurging and returning to normal are in the forefront, what emerged just over 100 years ago in Blair County set a new normal in train travel: The K4 locomotive.

“They were used on mainline passenger services,” explained Andrew Brumbaugh with the Railroaders Museum. “If you were going to travel on the Pennsylvania railroad, odds are your train was pulled by a K4 engine.”

In the late 1800's the Pennsylvania railroad set out to be a technological pacesetter for the industry. They developed the locomotive test department, similar to vehicle diagnostic centers we have today.

From the railroad test department emerged the K4.

“They tested a bunch of engines and basically figured out what was good and what was bad, and the result was the K4 steam engine,” said Brumbaugh.

Most of the K4's, 350 of them, were built at the Altoona Juniata shops.

The premier steam locomotive for decades. But today

“So, there are two K4s in existence,” Brumbaugh said. “One is cosmetically restored. Ours is in the restoration process in the hopes of eventually running.”

The restoration of the K4, historic, educational, symbolic of America’s industrial age.

“But to have something so large where it was actually made, that’s going to bring people from all over the world,” Brumbaugh said. “It’s going to help the Allegheny, Portage, East Broad Top and its really going to make central Pennsylvania a railroad destination.

ncG1vNJzZmivmpawtcKNnKamZ56axLR7y6iamqRflnqptdKtpquxXaSzbsDHnmSrnZ6kxK%2Bxw2aibWWjqbKiuYylppynnaTBqsLEZqqop55iwbB5wZ5kq52jqbyzscNmoKdlkaHBsLvNmg%3D%3D