Reading #1251

Class: B4a

Built: 1918 

Manufacturer: Philadelphia and Reading Company, Reading Shops, Reading, Pennsylvania

Retired: 1963

Philadelphia and Reading Company's #1251 is a 0-6-0 steam switcher, built for yard and light switching duties. As a tank-style switch engine with no leading or trailing wheels, its compact 0-6-0 wheel arrangement made it ideal for tight curves, frequent starts and stops, and short transfers within terminals or industrial spurs. Locomotive 1251 was coal-fired and featured relatively small drivers, emphasizing tractive effort over speed.

Although modest in size, the B4a class engines were highly durable and well-suited to the rigors of repetitive switching service. No. 1251 is particularly notable as the last steam locomotive in regular operation by the Reading Company, surviving into the early diesel era. It later served in excursion and demonstration roles before being retired and preserved. Its longevity and historical role make it a significant representative of late-era steam switching power in the northeastern U.S.