ASME-Landmark:Texas & Pacific

The Texas & Pacific 610 is the sole surviving example of the earliest form of the super-power steam locomotives built by the Lima Locomotive Works from 1925 to 1949. The super-power locomotives were the first to combine a high-capacity boiler with a modern valve gear and a four-wheel trailing truck. The performance of these locomotives was unprecedented, and they were the prototype for the modern American steam locomotive through the end of the rail industry's steam age. The chief design engineer was William E. Woodard (1873-1942), mechanical engineer, Lima Locomotive Works.

Number 610 was the first of the Texas & Pacific Railroad's (T & P) second order of 2-10-4s, delivered June 1927. The I-A1's differed from the first order slightly in that they were built with American multiple-valve throttles that allowed room for their stacks to be capped with decorative flanges, a favorite detail on the T & P. The boiler pressure was also raised from 250 to 255 psig, which increased tractive effort to 84,600 pounds, plus 13,300 pounds for the booster.

By 1953, all but two T & P steam locomotives were scrapped—the remaining locomotives, the 610 and 638, went on exhibit. During US bicentennial events, the 610 was restored (intact except for the truck booster engine) to pull the travelling exhibit the American Freedom Train through Texas. Southern Railway, which had never owned a super-power steam, then leased the 610 for its excursion trains until 1981. In 1987, the 610 was donated for display to the Texas State Railroad historical park, which operates excursions between Rusk and Palestine, Texas. See ASME website for more information