Steam & Excursion > PRR T1 Frame completed

After two years of intense engineering…
After six months of precise, heavy fabrication…
The frame of PRR T1 No. 5550 is FINISHED.

In our newest video, take a behind-the-scenes look at this massive achievement with Project Manager Davey Lawless of Dover Tank & Plate—the team that made it happen. Hear the story of how 71,000 pounds of American steel came together to form the foundation of what will be the first brand-new mainline steam locomotive built in the U.S. since 1950.

This isn’t just a piece of metal.
It’s momentum. It’s history in the making.
It’s the first full-sized T1 frame assembled in over 70 years—and it's ready for what comes next.

From digital CAD files to roaring torchwork…
From raw plate to 64 feet of perfectly aligned craftsmanship…
This frame is the beating heart of our dream, and it’s finally here.

Watch the full story now on our facebook or YT page.
Hear it from the people who built it.
And join us as we roll forward—one monumental weld at a time.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/01/25 14:32 by JasonJohnson.

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Very interesting video. Hope I live long enough to see it run.

Tom

She's gonna be a beauty. My Uncle Harry, who was a Fireman and an Engineer on the Pennsy Panhandle out of Xenia, Ohio would have been so proud. He ran K4s and T1s on the "Jeffersonian" and "Spirit Of St. Louis." Highball boys!! 

Everything about this project is impressive! I am delighted to see that America still has the ability to build this steam locomotive after all these decades of what I thought was a lost art. History in the making is a fact.

JasonJohnson Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> After two years of intense engineering…

> This isn’t just a piece of metal.
> It’s momentum. It’s history in the making...

Westbound Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Everything about this project is impressive! I am
> delighted to see that America still has the
> ability to build this steam locomotive after all
> these decades of what I thought was a lost art.
> History in the making is a fact.
>


But they had to fabricate it from plate steel instead of casting it as a one piece casting.
The ability to cast a one piece frame seems to have been lost.

 Congratulations to Jason Johnson and the entire T-1 crew for achieving another major milestone. Well done video. Sure will be a sight to behold when she comes alive and returns the world land speed record the USA . Onward and upward. Ross Rowland 

Casting one piece is possible, just too expensive. It would of cost us around $3,000,000 to make a one piece casting. There are two foundries that would do it that had the pour capacity. The method we chose is just as good and much cheaper. We didn't feel we needed to prove that we could do a one piece casting. That decision would have been hard to justify with members donations.

Posted from Android

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Westbound Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Everything about this project is impressive! I
> am
> > delighted to see that America still has the
> > ability to build this steam locomotive after
> all
> > these decades of what I thought was a lost art.
> > History in the making is a fact.
> >
>
>
> But they had to fabricate it from plate steel
> instead of casting it as a one piece casting.
> The ability to cast a one piece frame seems to
> have been lost.

Yes the ability yo cast one-piece frames maybe lost but, with the use of modern welding technology and plate steel & forgings/castings produce a MUCH stronger final product. A prime example would be EMC/EMD development of welding technology during the late 1930s for engine crankcase fabrication and underframe weldments, all of which revolutionized armor plate for the military during WWII, which eliminated the use of rivets.

That new T1 frame is far superior to what was cast in the 1940s.

Well done, Jason and team.  This project is amazing to watch.

WOW!!!!

And when you prove this can be done, we can get started on a New York Central Hudson!

Victor Baird



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/01/25 22:22 by wabash2800.

  When I win the Powerball lottery I intend to donate whatever funds are needed to finish the T-1 and finance her runs to bring the world steam locomotive speed cup back to the USA. The Brits have had it since the 1930's at 127.5 mph. My semi-educated guess is that the new T-1 will be able to comfortably achieve 140-145 mph. Sure will be a sight to behold.

   Then, I will gladly finance the building of a new NYC Niagara class locomotive, my favorite ( don't tell the 614 ) as a kid.  

    Onward and Upward.  Ross Rowland 

    P.S. please consider joining the T-1 trust and supporting this very worthy project as you're able to do. Thanks.

wabash2800 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> And when you prove this can be done, we can get
> started on a New York Central Hudson!
>
> Victor Baird

Why bother when there are two CB&Q Hudsons already saved?

co614 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>   When I win the Powerball lottery I intend to
> donate whatever funds are needed to finish the T-1
> and finance her runs to bring the world steam
> locomotive speed cup back to the USA. The Brits
> have had it since the 1930's at 127.5 mph. My
> semi-educated guess is that the new T-1 will be
> able to comfortably achieve 140-145 mph. Sure will
> be a sight to behold.
>

Where would you do this speed record attempt? I seriously doubt you would be allowed to use the NEC. The test track out in Pueblo maybe?

  Most ideal would be the 15 miles of tangent class 8 ( 160mph) track between New Brunswick and Trenton NJ. There's a number of high plat6form stations on this stretch which would make ideal viewing stands and ideal for live media coverage. 

    The rest is politics. Let's see what can be done when she's ready to go. Onward & Upward. Ross Rowland 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/25 13:11 by co614.

Regarding a welded frame, does it get stress relieved after welding (but before machining)?

Elesco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Regarding a welded frame, does it get stress
> relieved after welding (but before machining)?

I would think so, as that is how EMD did/does their engine crankcases and oil pans, i.e. spending lots of time in the high temperature ovens, prior to machining.

"...with a few going up to the eight-inch range."

Speaking of thickness, I think. Some of the
plate is 8 inches thick?

co614 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>   When I win the Powerball lottery I intend to
> donate whatever funds are needed to finish the T-1
> and finance her runs to bring the world steam
> locomotive speed cup back to the USA. The Brits
> have had it since the 1930's at 127.5 mph. 

More appropriate for it to stay in Britain since they were the ones who invented steam locomotives...

JG



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/25 09:24 by jgilmore.

Oh Jack. you don't know what you are saying. The J Hudson was THE NYC locomotive. And a fine locomotive it was.

Victor Baird

HotWater Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Why bother when there are two CB&Q Hudsons already
> saved?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/02/25 20:56 by wabash2800.