Baldwin lore has it that a B&O motive power official showed up in Philadelphia one day and wanted a Pacific that was like the Pennsy’s K4, only different. And in the ways that it was different, it wasn’t as good. Domers will tell you that fireboxes aren’t everything.
What the B&O got was the P7. They were originally built for the Royal Blue and passenger trains from Baltimore to New York. Delivered in 1927 as the President class, they were adorned with each of the President’s names. Originally olive green, they were repainted Royal Blue in 1937-38, after Roy B. White became president of the B&O. There were 20 engines numbered 5300-5319.
With a couple of exceptions, the B&O didn’t really make any major changes until 1944-45 when 4 engines (5305, 5308, 5309, 5318) were converted to subclass P7c. They received solid steel engine beds with integral cast cylinders. They received feed water heaters and had the air pumps moved to the pilot deck where they were placed behind a shield.
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo5305sb.jpg
The next group of 4 engines (P7d) was modified to power the Cincinnatian. They had all of the modifications of the P7c, but they were streamlined and received roller bearings on all axles, engine and tender. We’ve all seen these and Weaver made a model of this engine in the early 90s. http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/bo5301sc.jpg
The last group of engines to be modified were the P7e’s in 1949 and 1950. These are very similar in appearance to the P7c class, but they have the same large rectangular tender that the last T3 Mountains used.
http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/bo/bo-s5314ahn.jpg
The B&O used these all across its system, with the exception of the West End to Grafton (80 inch driver on > 2% grades weren’t a good fit). But from Baltimore to NewYork and Baltimore to Chicago, the P7s were found on everything from the Capitol Limited in its heyday to Train 34, the local between Cumberland and Washington. They ran in the Midwest and showed up in Louisville. Wheeling (Benwood Jct.) was a popular terminal where many could be found. At the very end of their careers, one or two were even used in work train service.
Sunset 3rd Rail is still taking reservations on their model. http://3rdrail.com/reservation.html#BOP7 It probably needs a few more reservations to be put in the production queue. The same group of B&O modelers that helped with the Q4b and T3 have been watching over this project as well. If you missed this engine and you would like to have one, please get your reservations in.
