Steam & Excursion > Monday Museum Steam: B&O 5300, President Washington

The "President" series of Pacifics were made by Baldwin in 1927.  The twenty locomotives were classed as P-7. #5300, President Washington, has been preserved at the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD. It spent many years outside before being moved to the carshop. Reportedly it is now undergoing full cosmetic restoration.  Here's three past photos.

1. Outside with a dusting of snow in 1993.

2. In 1996.

3. In the carshop in 2015.

B&O Bill

---

---

---

Thanks Bill, for the photos.  What many people do not know is that this engine was mentioned back in the early 1970's about a possible complete restoration so that the engine could operate for the 150th B&O R.R. Birthday celebration.  Well, to tell you the truth, it could have been rebuilt; however the powers to be soon realized that this engine, though historical, would be very limited in the size of a celebration passenger train.  Obviously, it never happened, and when the Reading 2101 was restored to pull the American Freedom Train, various folks at the Chessie System were interested in this engine, but it was the late William J. Howes, Jr. that got involved and worked out an agreement with Ross Rowland for the 2101 to be the engine to pull the Birthday Special which became the "Chessie Steam Special" in 1977 & 78.  Many rail historians as well as steam fans are contemplating whether or not CSX will do something special for the upcoming 200th Birthday of the B&O which is not that far away, 2027, about 3 more years.
John in White Marsh.

Some of your best photos - Your "inside" shot is great.
Bob

5300 was one of the last B&O Pacifics in service, lasting well into 1956, perhaps 1957. We have had film of it in action in a few of our videos, the most notable being Dr. Howard Blackburn's high speed chase in Southern Indiana as the engine headed a train from Louisville, Ky to Cincinnati.
That footage is in our "B&O Classics". Doc Blackburn removed the rear seat from his convertible and mounted a tripod for his 16mm camera  to shoot this and other B&O Pacifics on those runs. 5300 also apppears in "Cincinnati Classic Steam" in film by another photographer.

Jim Herron
Herron Rail Video
www,herronrail.com
 

Don't underestimate the power of that engine. It's not a small Pacific. These days, for extra power, the road would put a diesel on the rear. Yeah, I know, sacrilegious.

Victor Baird