LIRR 4-6-0 Class G5s 5741

LIRR 4-6-0 Class G5s #5741
PRR #5741 engine & tender were sent to to the LIRR apparently due to a shortage of power in September, 1955 right at the end of steam; October 16, 1955. PRR 5741 arrived with a leaky tender and a low side smaller capacity tender, so Morris Park Shops replaced the tender with the larger capacity LIRR #21 which had just been retired. #5741 was a PRR G5s probably out of passenger commuter service. In service on the LIRR would have been designated PRR Eng. No. 5741. Making the tender swap would not identify the locomotive differently either on railroad documents or on Form 19 train orders as LIRR locomotives were identified on train orders simply by road number and PRR. Photo: Northumberland, PA after G5s #5714 had been set aside for the official collection, so it wasn't on a RIP track. Research/Archive: Dave Keller Note: coupled to a low-sided, smaller, "Pennsylvania"-marked tender
G5s builder plate 11/1924 Built at Juniata Shops #3966, PA G5s #5741 headlight	PRR G5s #5741 cab interior labeled
		Detail photos of G5s 5741 at the RMPA

PRR #5741 Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg, PA Note: All Photos/Archive: Richard Glueck unless indicated		Tender 5741 rear view
G5s, delivered in 1924, came with tender Class 70P82. Here shown with replacement tender class 110P82a. Archive: Ron Zinn Note: Pin striping was removed by 1932 and the lettering is spaced farther apart (applied 1942) than when originally delivered in 1924. Photo is c.1946 Research: Dave Keller	LIRR tender No. 21 builder plate Class 110.P.82A Photo: Gary Farkash c/o OBRM LIRR #21's tender really got around! "The Pennsy Era on Long Island," by Ron Ziel, page 51 states: "...the Pennsy sent over G5 #5741 to Long Island in September, 1955, right at the end of steam. The LI replaced #5741's tender (leaky, maybe?) with the tender from just-retired #21..." Then in Ron Ziel's "Long Island Heritage" book, he states that #21's tender was moved again to #35 just before #35 went on display at Salisbury Park, later as Eisenhower Park. Info: Joe Vila	Tender #5741 builder plate

The last Pennsy G5s to run finished service on the LIRR, in 1955. Today it is the only PRR G5s left, standing in the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Across the street, at the Strasburg Railroad, stands the boiler of LIRR G5s #39, readily to be wheeled back indoors for restoration. Remember, as good as this locomotive looks, she is not capable of being fired today, nor does Pennsylvania State law allow heritage locomotives in State custody to be fired. She's protected indoors and represents the heaviest, largest ten-wheelers to have been turned out of Juniata Shops. The tender of 5741 was replaced while she finished her LIRR lease, taking the taller K4s style tender of a retired LIRR locomotive. This tender was fitted with a scoop for collecting water from track pans. Long Island never had track pans, so our G5s's never carried that appliance. G5s 5741 is a beautiful machine designed to haul commuters around Pittsburgh, but then was found to be perfect for LIRR rapid start and short haul trains. A single G5s could breeze the "Sunrise Special", the pre-WW II Montauk Friday night express train, at 70 mph with no issues. LIRR #29's tender was dedicated to that train alone. During the week, #29 did regular commuter runs. 5741 was the final G5s to operate on the Pennsy, but not on the LIRR. It finished service on the LIRR, returning to storage in Philly, and then the Northumberland roundhouse. Over the years each G5s was mechanically improved for service, but none received the PRR "beauty treatment". The RMPA is aware of the display paint scheme being inconsistent with 5741's mechanical era status. The paint she wears today is consistent with the earliest years of G5s operations. Obviously, she looks good and the average visitor wouldn't know the difference, so with other locomotives needing immediate paint and restoration work, the G5s will stay as it is. Richard Glueck