An interesting type of locomotive that was developed for use strictly in the North East was the 'camelback', 'center cab'. or 'mother hubbard'. These locomotives had huge fireboxes for the hard chunk, slow-burning anthracite coal that was in plentiful supply in the Pennsylvania coal fields. Because the firebox and grate had to be large enough for the coal to be spread out in order to burn, they were placed at the end of the locomotive with the cab in the center. Here are a variety of camelbacks from the 'hard coal carriers'. First, let's look at some of the Erie camelback locos beginning with a circa 1920 shot of a freight headed up by camelback. Here you can see the canopy covering the fireman's platform. Note the Erie refrigerator car with the old style herald right behind the tender.
The Erie had three of these huge camelbacks built by ALCO that were used in pusher service. Take a look at this monster.
Here's a postcard showing the same loco in 1909 with a description on the reverse side. According to this card, # 2600 could do the work of three locomotives!
And another view of the fabled # 2600...
In this circa 1910 card we see the Lackawanna's use of camelbacks in passenger service.
This circa 1940s card shows a camelback pulling a long haul of passenger cars somewhere still 'under the wire'.
Here we see 'attaches' of the Hallstead, PA roundhouse with a 2-6-0 on the turntable.
Camelbacks were used extensively over the DL&W including service on the crack 'Lackawanna Limited'.
This 1946 photochrome card is of a Delaware & Hudson Railroad camelback in local passenger service. Note the mixed-style pilot with foot boards on either side.
For more information on camelback locos, click here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camelback_locomotive
