Restoration Of LIRR 4-6-0 #39 Continues

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   Restoration Of LIRR 4-6-0 #39 Continues
   

Published: April 13, 2026

By: Adam Burns

Among the most historically significant surviving locomotives from the Long Island Rail Road is No. 39, a classic 4-6-0 “Ten-Wheeler” that represents the twilight of steam on one of America’s busiest commuter railroads. Today, this locomotive is at the center of one of the most ambitious preservation efforts in the Northeast—the “Steam Up #39” project led by the Railroad Museum of Long Island.

In a recent Facebook post from April 12, 2026 the group shared photos of recent work to the locomotive including repainting the main drivers, undercarriage, and pilot truck.  The engine’s restoration, which is being carried out in conjunction with the Strasburg Rail Road, will eventually see the ten-wheeler operate on the famous Pennsylvania short line.  To learn more about the #39’s return to steam, and donating towards their cause, please click here to visit the “Steam Up #39” website.

Origins And Construction

Long Island Rail Road No. 39 was built in 1929 at the famed Juniata Shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It was part of the G5s class, a group of modern suburban passenger locomotives designed specifically for fast, frequent commuter service.

The G5s design reflected the Pennsylvania Railroad’s engineering philosophy—efficient, powerful, and relatively lightweight locomotives capable of quick acceleration between closely spaced stops. These attributes made them ideal for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), where dense commuter operations dominated daily service.  No. 39 was one of 31 such locomotives delivered to the LIRR, forming the backbone of its steam-powered passenger fleet during the late 1920s through the early 1950s.

Service On Long Island

The G5s locomotives quickly became synonymous with LIRR commuter service. No. 39 hauled passenger trains across Long Island during an era when steam still ruled the rails, sharing duties with larger locomotives such as the PRR’s K4s Pacifics.

These engines were particularly well-suited to suburban operations:

• Rapid acceleration for frequent station stops
• Moderate size for lighter branch lines
• Reliable, standardized PRR design

By the late 1940s and early 1950s, however, the writing was on the wall. Dieselization—particularly with Alco RS-3 locomotives—was rapidly replacing steam across the LIRR system.

The End Of Steam: 1955

No. 39 played a dramatic role in one of the most famous moments in Long Island rail history: the official end of steam service.

On October 8, 1955, the LIRR staged a ceremonial “end of steam” event at Hicksville, New York. No. 39 and sister engine No. 35 each pulled a single coach into the station, symbolizing the final chapter of steam operations.

In a symbolic gesture of transition:

• The coaches were handed off to diesel locomotives
• The two steam engines were coupled nose-to-nose
• They returned to Morris Park shops—marking the end of an era

Soon afterward, No. 39 was retired from service along with the rest of the G5s fleet.

Preservation And Early Years

Unlike most steam locomotives, No. 39 escaped scrapping. It was donated to the Long Island Museum of Art, History & Carriages shortly after retirement, preserving it as a static artifact of the steam age.  In 1992, the locomotive became a central exhibit of the newly established Railroad Museum of Long Island, headquartered in Riverhead and Greenport, New York. For decades, No. 39 remained on display, admired but inactive—until plans emerged to return it to steam.

The “Steam Up #39” Restoration Project

The restoration of No. 39—often referred to as the “Steam Up #39” project—is one of the most significant locomotive preservation efforts currently underway in the United States.

Partnership With Strasburg Rail Road

In 2013, the Railroad Museum of Long Island entered into a long-term agreement with the Strasburg Rail Road to restore the locomotive to operating condition.

Key elements of this partnership include:

• A 15-year agreement to complete restoration
• Shared financial responsibility
• Professional heavy restoration work performed at Strasburg

The Strasburg Rail Road—renowned for its steam expertise—has undertaken major work on the locomotive’s boiler and firebox, the most complex and expensive components.

Funding And Progress

The restoration is expected to cost well over $1 million, with both organizations contributing funds and conducting ongoing fundraising campaigns.

Efforts include:

• Public donations and sponsorships
• Special events and awareness campaigns
• Support from rail enthusiasts and notable backers

The ultimate goal is to return No. 39 to full operating condition, making it one of the very few operational LIRR steam locomotives in existence.

Significance Of No. 39

No. 39 holds a unique place in American railroad history:

• Last generation of LIRR steam power
• Direct link to PRR suburban locomotive design
• Participant in the official end of steam ceremony
• One of only a handful of surviving G5s locomotives

Its restoration represents more than mechanical work—it is the revival of a lost chapter of Long Island’s transportation heritage.

Specifications

Looking Ahead

The eventual return of No. 39 to steam would be a landmark achievement. Not only would it revive a rare example of Long Island Rail Road steam power, but it would also provide:

• Authentic excursion opportunities
• Educational programming
• A living connection to the region’s rail heritage

Few locomotives carry such symbolic weight—bridging the gap between the golden age of steam and the modern commuter railroad that the LIRR has become.  No. 39 stands today as both relic and promise. Built in 1929 to serve the daily needs of commuters, it later helped mark the end of steam in 1955. Now, through the dedicated efforts of the Railroad Museum of Long Island and its partners, the locomotive is poised for a new chapter.  The “Steam Up #39” project ensures that this historic Ten-Wheeler may once again breathe steam—bringing Long Island’s railroad past vividly back to life.