Long Island Railroad #39 is a G-5s class steam locomotive with a 4-6-0 wheel arrangement. #39 was one of 31 G-5s locomotives built in the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Juniata shops for Long Island commuter service.
The G-5s class locomotive was originally designed by the Pennsylvania Railroad for the rigorous job of commuter service. Commuter service requires locomotives that can start and stop trains often. The G-5s is designed to rapidly accelerate a train of ten or more passenger coaches to over 70 mph, then, after running several miles, bring the train to a stop at the next station. This must be done over and over again. The G-5s handled this task well. This locomotive class first entered commuter service for the Pennsylvania Railroad on branchlines around Pittsburgh, PA in 1923.
At this time the Long Island Rail Road, the largest commuter railroad in the country, was a Pennsylvania Railroad subsidiary. The Long Island was undergoing a modernization that would make it the first US operator of an all steel passenger car fleet by 1927. This growth meant heavier trains. The G-5s was a perfect fit for the Long Island’s needs.
In January, 1924, the Pennsylvania Railroad built four class G-5s locomotives, #20 – #23, for the Long Island Railroad. In January, 1925, five more were built, #24 through #28. #29 though #38 were delivered in 1928 and #39 through #50 arrived in 1929. These Ten-Wheelers provided the bulk of Long Island’s motive power until dieselization in 1955.
Our G-5s, #39, served primarily the LIRR Oyster Bay branch in Nassau County. She was the last steam engine to travel to the LIRR Greenport Terminal in June, 1955, and was one of two steam engines to participate in the official “End of Steam” ceremonies at Hicksville Station on October 8, 1955. (The other steam engine in this ceremony, G-5s #35, survives and is held by Nassau County at the Oyster Bay Railroad Museum in Oyster Bay, NY.) Also participating in the “End of Steam” ceremony were two brand new Alco RS-3 diesel locomotives and two new Pullman Standard P-72 coaches. One of these diesels, RS-3 #1556, and one of these coaches, P-72 #2924, are held in the Railroad Museum of Long Island’s collection at Riverhead, NY!
Original specifications:
Top Speed ……………………………………… 85+ mph
Design Speed …………………………………. 70 mph
Tractive Effort …………………………………. 41,328 lb
Driving Wheel Diameter …………………….. 68″
Boiler Pressure………………………………… 205 lbs per sq inch
Factor Of Adhesion …………………………… 4.31
Cylinder Horsepower …………………………. 2178
Cylinder Diameter …………………………….. 24″
Cylinder Stoke …………………………………. 28″
Total Weight …………………………………… 237,000 lb
Length Over Strikers ………………………… 38′ 3 3/8″
Boiler Diameter ………………………………. 76 3/4″
In March 2013, the Railroad Museum of Long Island entered into a restoration partnership with the Strasburg Rail Road Company of Strasburg, PA. The RMLI must raise +$1,000,000.00 in fifteen years. Following that goal, Strasburg will restore the #39 in three years time. When operational, the RMLI will lease the locomotive to the Strasburg Rail Road for a minimum of 48 years.
The LIRR G5s Steam Locomotive #39’s whistle hasn’t felt the rush of hot steam since October 1955 when she performed in the LIRR’s “End of Steam” ceremony at Hicksville, NY. On September 15 and 16, 2012 the RMLI had the opportunity to make her sound again, after fifty seven years of silence! The RMLI thanks the Long Island Antique Power Association for allowing the whistle to be placed on their 1929 Buffalo Springfield Steam Roller at the Hallockville Fall Festival. RMLI’s Steam Project manager and LIAPA member, John Golden, runs the Buffalo through her paces.