PAUL ROMANO posted:I recall the tenders on the P&LE 2-8-4s may have for some reason been built by Lima Locomotive Works.
I think Alco had already re-tasked their tender fabrication area for other purposes when the P&LE Berkshires were built. They knew the steam locomotive construction business was dead before these engines were built. The P&LE Berks had rectangular Alco builders plates on the smokebox and diamond-shaped Lima builders plates on the tenders!
I remember reading an article about (if I recall correctly) NYC Niagaras that were originally built with a silicon-carbon alloy that could develop corrosion cracks. Alco agreed to replace the boilers with carbon steel, but by this point in the late 1940's or early 50's, they had reorganized their shop and no longer had the manufacturing capability to build locomotive boilers (even for service). They contracted with a third-party company to fabricate the replacement boilers.
Scott Griggs
Louisville, KY
