Jawn Henry was built by the Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton (Baldwin Locomotive Works) for Norfolk & Western in 1954. It was an experimental steam turbine locomotive designed to compete with diesel locomotives in an effort to continue using steam. The idea was to combine the electric drive of diesel with the proven power of steam. The result was a 4,000hp steam turbine engine that offered superior fuel savings over other steam locomotives in use at the time.

However, the Jawn Henry design proved to be more expensive to build over other steam and diesel designs, had complex controls, was exceptionally long at 161 feet and didn't fit on the N&W's turntables, and typically had problems with coal dust and fly ash fouling electrical equipment. Norfolk & Western had remained one of the last Class I railroads to still use steam in mainline service, however in 1955 the railroad finally gave in and purchased a number of diesels and in 1958 Jawn Henry was scrapped.

---

An interesting design I found while researching unique locomotives to build. If you're interested in reading more I'd go here.

If you're interested in seeing this, or more of my builds, you can visit them on The Realism Society! Just enter the IP mc.realismsociety.com