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Lima, Ohio. December 1941. The brilliant C&O/Lima Locomotive design team poses for a photograph in front of their latest creation--a 2-6-6-6 Allegheny. Despite years of claims to the contrary, this first series of Alleghenies were indeed the heaviest steam locomotives ever built. This photo was taken by the Lima company photographer mere days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and for C&O the first ten Alleghenies came right in time for the surge of war traffic on America's railroads.
They don't make 'em like THAT anymore! Modern loco's are so soul-less. That loco is a giant. I can imagine the feeling of awe standing nearby when it was in full steam.
What a sight it would have been under full load in the mountains!
Hey, thanks for a terrific shot of the designers that helped build this beautiful loco, I believe that there's an Allegheny at the Ford museum in Dearborn Mich, one hell of an impressive loco standing next to it. Sure would love to see it running.
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