Pennsylvania Railroad 643 is a B4a class "Switcher" type steam locomotive, built by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)'s Juniata Shops in 1901. It is preserved and operated by the Williams Grove Railroad (WGRR) in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. As of 2026, No. 643 is the only Pennsylvania Railroad steam locomotive currently in operating condition.
History No. 643 was built in June 1901 by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR)'s Juniata Shops in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) operated the locomotive as a yard switcher for sixteen years. In 1917, the railroad deemed it obsolete and sold it to the Central Iron and Steel Company, which renumbered it as No. 5. It was rebuilt in 1945, receiving a new boiler made by the H.K. Porter Company.
The locomotive continued to run as Central Iron and Steel was absorbed by the Phoenix Iron & Steel Company, which was later renamed the Phoenix Steel Corporation. When the company ceased operations in 1959, No. 5 was retired and stored in an abandoned mill building.
In 1961, the engine was purchased by the new Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association, which renumbered it back to 643 and restored to operating condition. It has since hauled excursion trains on the 1-mile track at the Williams Grove Railroad (WGRR) in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania.
In 2001, No. 643 was removed from service for an overhaul; it was returned to service in 2006.
In April 2015, No. 643 operated for the annual Williams Grove Steam Show. In June 2021, the locomotive celebrated its 120th birthday. On June 19–21, 2026, No. 643 celebrated its 125th birthday; it received a fresh coat of paint, pulled several excursion passenger trains, and did freight photo runbys during Old Train Days weekend for the United States Semiquincentennial.
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External links Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Association