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1/9/2026
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Home > Bessemer & Lake Erie > Locomotives > Baldwin Locomotive Works 2-10-4 > BLE 643
Pictures of BLE 643
 
Owner: Bessemer & Lake Erie
Model:BLW 2-10-4Built As:BLE 643 (2-10-4)
Serial Number:70057Order No:
Frame Number:31X32 cylinders, 64" driversBuilt:2/1943
Notes:Baldwin H1G retired in 1953, held for display
Other locos with this serial:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
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BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  B&LE 643 @ Mckees Rocks (Ex-P&LE facility)
Photo Date:  5/30/1999  Upload Date: 3/26/2007 9:19:28 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Matt Provenza
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  9904   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  All have given up hope. (Right Side)
Photo Date:  4/9/2006  Upload Date: 4/13/2006 4:08:10 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  4209   Comments: 1
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  23,000 GALS/26 TON (Rear of Tender).
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:32:04 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  2363   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Butterfly Fire Door
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:33:01 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  InCab,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  2682   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Brakemans Seat
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:33:56 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  InCab,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  2864   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Engineers Seat
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:35:00 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  InCab,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  2333   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Undressed Front.
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:36:02 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  2652   Comments: 2
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Left Side of Engine
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:36:50 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  3220   Comments: 0
BLE 643 Tender
Title:  BLE 643 Tender
Description:  Inside the Cab (1)
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:37:58 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  InCab,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1749   Comments: 0
BLE 643 Tender
Title:  BLE 643 Tender
Description:  Inside the Cab Looking to the Rear
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:38:43 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  InCab,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1864   Comments: 1
BLE 643 Tender
Title:  BLE 643 Tender
Description:  Tender Cabs seat.
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:39:23 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  InCab,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1643   Comments: 0
BLE 643 Tender
Title:  BLE 643 Tender
Description:  On top of the Tender.
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:40:15 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1672   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Wheels are aprox. 5 feet tall
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:42:03 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1967   Comments: 0
BLE 643 Tender
Title:  BLE 643 Tender
Description:  Left Side
Photo Date:  4/16/2006  Upload Date: 4/26/2006 3:42:45 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  JT Mangan
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  2178   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description: 
Photo Date:  5/5/2010  Upload Date: 5/10/2010 11:01:38 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Michaeg Rujak
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1959   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description: 
Photo Date:  8/29/2010  Upload Date: 9/8/2010 4:02:07 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Steven McKay
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1478   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description: 
Photo Date:  11/19/2010  Upload Date: 4/21/2010 12:09:13 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  hunter levi
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  2606   Comments: 2
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Bessemer & Lake Erie 643 sits near the Ex-P&LE now CSX main in McKees Rocks PA
Photo Date:  1/20/2013  Upload Date: 1/20/2013 7:37:21 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Matt Provenza
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1786   Comments: 4
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Bessemer & Lake Erie 643 sits near the Ex-P&LE now CSX main in McKees Rocks PA
Photo Date:  1/20/2013  Upload Date: 1/20/2013 7:52:18 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Matt Provenza
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  2636   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description: 
Photo Date:  3/30/2013  Upload Date: 4/1/2013 4:57:25 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Todd Dillon
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1503   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description: 
Photo Date:  3/30/2013  Upload Date: 4/1/2013 4:58:14 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Todd Dillon
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1305   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description: 
Photo Date:  3/30/2013  Upload Date: 4/1/2013 4:59:23 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Todd Dillon
Categories:  Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1346   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description: 
Photo Date:  11/9/2014  Upload Date: 11/13/2014 12:16:43 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Michael Rujak
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  4303   Comments: 1
B&LE #643
Title:  B&LE #643
Description:  I don't know her story... But she looks like she could use some love and care.
Photo Date:  2/22/2015  Upload Date: 2/3/2018 2:51:26 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Victoria Broskie
Categories:  Winter,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1377   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Bessemer & Lake Erie 643 sits near the Ex-P&LE now CSX main in McKees Rocks PA
Photo Date:  2/10/2018  Upload Date: 2/10/2018 11:15:49 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Matt Provenza
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1024   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Bessemer & Lake Erie 643 sits near the Ex-P&LE now CSX main in McKees Rocks PA
Photo Date:  2/10/2018  Upload Date: 2/10/2018 11:21:38 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Matt Provenza
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1334   Comments: 0
B&LE 643
Title:  B&LE 643
Description:  Lookin' good, sittin' out in the weather...
Photo Date:  4/8/2018  Upload Date: 4/14/2018 8:53:01 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Bob Zimmermann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1325   Comments: 0
BPRR 3330
Title:  BPRR 3330
Description:  Westbound BPRR coal train passes B&LE 643 at McKees Rocks
Photo Date:  11/20/2018  Upload Date: 11/21/2018 10:43:16 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Bob Zimmermann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BPRR 3330(SD40-3) BPRR 3341(SD40-3) BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1346   Comments: 0
BPRR 3328-BLE 643
Title:  BPRR 3328-BLE 643
Description:  BPRR 3328 leads a westbound coal train past B&LE 643
Photo Date:  12/22/2018  Upload Date: 12/26/2018 11:15:44 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Bob Zimmermann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BPRR 3328(SD40-2) BLE 643(2-10-4) BPRR 3333(SD40-3) PW 4301(SD70M-2)
Views:  1436   Comments: 0
B&LE 643
Title:  B&LE 643
Description:  B&LE steamer with smokebox front removed
Photo Date:  10/8/2019  Upload Date: 10/8/2019 2:55:11 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Bob Zimmermann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  947   Comments: 0
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Tender on highway bogies
Photo Date:  10/15/2019  Upload Date: 10/15/2019 11:20:22 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Bob Zimmermann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1032   Comments: 0
B&LE 643
Title:  B&LE 643
Description:  B&LE locomotive without tender
Photo Date:  10/18/2019  Upload Date: 10/21/2019 10:33:39 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Bob Zimmermann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  982   Comments: 0
B&LE 643
Title:  B&LE 643
Description:  Suspended boiler separated from drive wheels and underframe, to be hauled to new owner
Photo Date:  11/22/2019  Upload Date: 11/23/2019 9:43:20 AM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Bob Zimmermann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1110   Comments: 0
CSX 5416
Title:  CSX 5416
Description:  Westbound CSX COFC passes B&LE 643 other side of fence
Photo Date:  3/14/2020  Upload Date: 3/14/2020 7:38:19 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Bob Zimmermann
Categories: 
Locomotives:  CSX 5416(ES44DC) BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1005   Comments: 1
BLE 643
Title:  BLE 643
Description:  Bessemer & Lake Erie 643 partially dismantled on private property next to the CSX (Ex-PLE) main in McKees Rocks
Photo Date:  5/13/2020  Upload Date: 6/10/2020 10:14:14 PM
Location:  McKees Rocks, PA
Author:  Matt Provenza
Categories: 
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  1231   Comments: 0
BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Title:  BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Description:  Here is one lucky 2-10-4 "Texas" type locomotive as it has a sweet retirement at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, OH. Our guide on the tour is dwarfed by the massive sive of this locomotive! Built by Baldwin in February of 1944 as Bessemer & Lake Erie 2-10-4 #643 (serial #70057, class H1G), the loco served as heavy duty workhorse for moving iron ore from the lake boats to the steel mills and carried Pennsylvania coal back to the lakefront. The loco only served for 9 years before being replaced by diesels. B&LE placed the loco in storage by BLE for future donation to a museum starting in 1953.
Photo Date:  10/30/2025  Upload Date: 11/29/2025 12:21:29 PM
Location:  Sugarcreek, OH
Author:  Gary Everhart
Categories:  Roster,Scenic,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  73   Comments: 0
BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Title:  BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Description:  The loco was stored by BLE in Greenville, PA after retirement in 1953. By 1980's, it was auctioned off and went to a private owner who restored it for excursion service. Unfortunately it took more than 10 years to restore and never ran an excursion train. It was finally saved through a purchase by the Age of Steam Roundhouse owner Jerry Joe Jacbson on August 5, 2019. Disassembled and moved to Sugarcreek, OH, it was reassembled and on display by March of 2025. We are glad to see it on display there - a real beauty!
Photo Date:  10/30/2025  Upload Date: 11/29/2025 12:21:30 PM
Location:  Sugarcreek, OH
Author:  Gary Everhart
Categories:  Roster,Scenic,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  60   Comments: 0
BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Title:  BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Description:  While in the Age of Steam Roundhouse built in 2010, the loco is positioned below the smoke collector (hood) as would have been in all roundhouses to carry the fumes out of the building. Really nice to see a new, working roundhouse with all the important parts there. Beats looking at decrepit, decaying roundhouses that we have seen more often than not.
Photo Date:  10/30/2025  Upload Date: 11/29/2025 12:21:32 PM
Location:  Sugarcreek, OH
Author:  Gary Everhart
Categories:  Roster,Scenic,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  71   Comments: 0
BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Title:  BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Description:  Here is Baldwin's builder plate and Elesco superheater bulder plate on the loco. Unfortuantely, a few of the steam locomotives at the Age of Steam Roundhouse have missing builder plates - taken before the loco arrived at the roundhouse. I like photographing the builder plate because it makes tracking down information so much easier!
Photo Date:  10/30/2025  Upload Date: 11/29/2025 12:21:34 PM
Location:  Sugarcreek, OH
Author:  Gary Everhart
Categories:  Roster,Scenic,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  74   Comments: 0
BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Title:  BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Description:  Bessemer & Lake Erie 2-10-4 #643 has several notable honors. It is the sole surviver of the B&LE H-1 class and one of only two surviving B&LE steam locomotives. In addition, it is also one of only two 2-10-4's that were restored to operating condition. Finally, it ranks among the heaviest and most powerful non-articulated steam locomotives to operate, and one of the largest surviving steam locomotives in preservation in the United States.
Photo Date:  10/30/2025  Upload Date: 11/29/2025 12:21:35 PM
Location:  Sugarcreek, OH
Author:  Gary Everhart
Categories:  Roster,Scenic,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  77   Comments: 0
BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Title:  BLE 2-10-4 #643 - Bessemer & Lake Erie
Description:  Original specs for B&LE 2-10-4 #643 are - 64" drivers, impressive 250 psi boiler pressure, 21x32" cylinders, heavy engine wt of 524,440 lb and impressive tractive force of 102,106 lb. It had three thermic siphons, two in the firebox and one in the combustion chamber. At 250 psi and 250 degrees of superheat, boiler horse power was 4,690 HP.
Photo Date:  10/30/2025  Upload Date: 11/29/2025 12:21:37 PM
Location:  Sugarcreek, OH
Author:  Gary Everhart
Categories:  Roster,Scenic,Steam
Locomotives:  BLE 643(2-10-4)
Views:  66   Comments: 0

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