Kelly Anderson posted:J Daddy posted:The S1 ... it just could not negotiate the PRR main line radii and the main drivers slipping would tear up its tires... which plagued its service life...
Or fit on the turntables at either end of its run, not too handy.
As I understand it, the S1 was built as an advertising stunt to outshine NYC's display at the 1939 World's Fair. Operationally it was an outsized one of a kind orphan that was too big to be a practical fit in the PRR's infrastructure. It's service life was what, about five years?
Actually for a failure it was in service much longer... last run was in 1945, scrapped in 1946... there was a service facility located in Ohio with that had a wye track used to turn it. the facility was up until the mid 2000's then was torn down. It had a elongated stall in the roundhouse especially made for the S1. Now were did I put those photos...
Here we go - Crestline Ohio was the location. When I drove by 2 years ago the roundhouse was torn down. Your can see the S1 in the lower LH corner...outside of its stall.
