Baldwin Locomotive Works

History of the Baldwin Locomotive Works 1831-1920

Originally written in the late 1900's and then periodically revised, A History of the Baldwin Locomotive Works chronicles the origins and growth of one of America's greatest industrial-era corporations. Founded in the early 1830's by Philadelphia jeweler Matthais Baldwin, the company built a huge number of steam locomotives before ceasing production in 1949. These included the 4-4-0 American type, 2-8-2 Mikado and 2-8-0 Consolidation. Hit hard by the loss of the steam engine market, Baldwin soldiered on for a brief while, producing electric and diesel engines. General Electric's dominance of the market proved too much, and Baldwin finally closed its doors in 1956. By that time over 70,500 Baldwin locomotives had been produced. This high quality reprint of the official company history dates from 1920. It traces the growth of the company, the individuals who contributed to its success, and the innovative technologies that made it the most respected name in steam locomotives. The book also includes a brief history of the Standard Steel Works, which supplied Baldwin with parts. The book has been slightly reformatted, but care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.