In 1905, the Pennsylvania Railroad needed a better steam locomotive than the class E 4-4-2 "Atlantic" type, which were incresingly became obsolescent in the face of heavier traffic and locomotive design development.[1] Therefore, the railroad ordered six experimental locomotives, with two 2-6-2s from Alco-Schenectady being among the lot. With one each being allocated to the Fort Wayne and Pittsburgh divisions, they were tested extensively and failed in railroad service. However, they were still on the roster by 1924.[2]
The two J28s had 80 inch drivers and a 34.25 foot engine wheelbase. Engine #7453 had inboard piston valves and Stephenson valve gear, while #2761 had outside piston valves and Walschaerts valve gear.[2] They each weighed 377,500 pounds with the tender. They had 27,504 pounds of tractive effort, had a 89 square feet (8.3 m2) of firebox space, also had a grate area of 54 square feet (5.0 m2), able to hold 7,000 gallons of water and 13.5 tons of coal.[2] Despite these specifications and more, the J28 was not a powerful enough Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive.[citation needed]
