Lima Locomotive Works
Defunct American manufacturer of steam and diesel locomotives, best known for Shay geared locomotives and Super Power steam designs.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Lima Locomotive Works was an American locomotive manufacturer whose principal works stood in Lima, Ohio. The company developed from a machinery business serving agricultural, sawmill, and logging customers into one of the most technically influential builders of American steam locomotives. Its products were used primarily by railroads, logging companies, industrial operators, and government organizations. Lima's earliest major success came from the Shay geared locomotive, a design associated with inventor Ephraim Shay. Unlike a conventional steam locomotive, the Shay transmitted power through gearing and a longitudinal drive shaft to its trucks. This arrangement sacrificed high speed but delivered strong, controllable pulling power at low speeds, making it especially useful in logging districts, mountain terrain, and other locations where steep grades and imperfect track limited conventional locomotives. Lima built and refined Shay locomotives under license, and demand for them helped transform the company from a general machinery producer into a specialized locomotive builder. More than 300 locomotives were produced during the decade following the first Shay construction. After a serious fire, Lima opened a replacement manufacturing facility in 1902. As the market for geared logging locomotives matured, the company sought larger railroad orders. Its most important later development was the Super Power concept promoted by mechanical engineer William E. Woodard. Beginning with the New York Central's H-10 experimental 2-8-2, Woodard combined a larger firebox, improved superheating, feedwater heating, better draft and steam flow, higher boiler pressure, and other efficiency measures. The resulting locomotives emphasized sustained horsepower at speed rather than only starting tractive effort. Lima's 1925 A-1 demonstrator embodied this approach and became the prototype for the Berkshire wheel arrangement, a 2-8-4 configuration with a four-wheel trailing truck supporting a large firebox and ash pan. Successful trials, including testing over the Berkshire Hills, led the Boston & Albany and other railroads to order comparable locomotives. The concept influenced later heavy steam designs across North America, even when other manufacturers or railroads adapted only selected features. By 1949, approximately 613 Berkshires had been built for North American service, and numerous Lima locomotives later entered preservation. During the Second World War, Lima also produced M4A1 Sherman tanks, including units intended for British use. The wartime period expanded the company's industrial role but was followed by serious commercial and legal difficulties. In 1941, Lima's initial weight figures for Chesapeake & Ohio H-8 locomotives were found to be materially below the figures calculated by maintenance personnel. Because crew compensation was connected to locomotive weight on the driving wheels, the dispute led to payments by the railroad to employees and a lawsuit against Lima in 1944. In 1947, Lima merged with General Machinery Corporation of Hamilton, Ohio, becoming Lima-Hamilton Corporation. The company's final steam locomotive, Nickel Plate Road No. 779, was completed in 1949. Lima-Hamilton then concentrated on diesel-electric locomotives and produced 175 units in seven models between 1949 and 1951. It also promoted an unbuilt 4-8-6 steam locomotive concept. In 1951, Lima-Hamilton merged with Baldwin Locomotive Works to form Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton. The Lima-Hamilton diesel line was discontinued in favor of Baldwin's existing designs, and Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton left the locomotive business in 1956. The former Lima site was later used for construction cranes and related equipment under Clark Equipment Company. Crane and construction-equipment production ended in 1980, after which the factory was closed and sold. Remaining buildings were progressively dismantled, with the former erecting shed and heavy Shay shops demolished in 1998. Lima's legacy survives through preserved locomotives, archival records, builder's drawings, museums, tourist railways, and operating examples of its Shay, Berkshire, and other steam designs.
History
Lima's industrial history began with machinery production in Lima, Ohio, where the company served agricultural and sawmill customers. Its railway significance emerged when James Alley contracted the works to build a locomotive based on Ephraim Shay's design. The first Shay-type locomotive was completed in 1878 or 1880, depending on whether the initial construction contract or the rebuilt locomotive is used as the reference point. Shay's geared system was particularly effective for logging railways because it provided substantial low-speed adhesion and could negotiate difficult grades and uneven track. Lima obtained licensing rights and expanded production as demand grew. During the following decade, locomotives became the company's principal output, with more than 300 produced. A major fire prompted the construction of a new shop in 1902, but the company continued Shay production and subsequently pursued larger conventional locomotives for common-carrier railroads. Corporate reorganizations produced the names Lima Locomotive & Machine Company in 1892 and Lima Locomotive Corporation in 1912. In 1916, Joel Coffin and Samuel G. Allen acquired the business and renamed it Lima Locomotive Works. The company's most important engineering transition occurred in the 1920s. Mechanical engineer William E. Woodard argued that steam locomotives should be designed around sustained horsepower at operating speed rather than around starting tractive effort alone. His experimental H-10 2-8-2 for New York Central demonstrated the benefits of a larger firebox, improved boiler and steam-circuit efficiency, better drafting, feedwater heating, greater superheat, and other refinements. The design reportedly achieved a substantial efficiency improvement over its predecessor and led New York Central to order a large group of related locomotives. Woodard's next major step was Lima's A-1 demonstrator, completed in 1925. Its 2-8-4 wheel arrangement provided room for a substantially larger firebox and ash pan. After testing, including trials over the Berkshire Hills, the design attracted orders from Boston & Albany and other railroads. The Berkshire name became widely associated with the 2-8-4 arrangement. Lima's Super Power approach evolved through later generations with larger drivers, higher boiler pressures, improved combustion arrangements, roller bearings, and applications to other heavy wheel arrangements. Although other builders developed competing designs, many adopted some of the principles associated with Lima's work. Lima remained active in heavy steam locomotive production through the 1930s and the Second World War. Its output included large articulated locomotives such as the Chesapeake & Ohio H-8 class. The company also diversified into wartime manufacturing and built M4A1 Sherman tanks. Its commercial position weakened after the H-8 weight dispute. Locomotive crews' pay was connected to weight on the driving wheels, and the discovery that the locomotives were heavier than initially represented resulted in compensation payments and a lawsuit by Chesapeake & Ohio. The legal and reputational consequences contributed to Lima's later difficulties. In 1947, Lima merged with General Machinery Corporation to become Lima-Hamilton. Steam production ended with Nickel Plate Road No. 779 in May 1949, although the company briefly promoted an unbuilt 4-8-6 concept. Lima-Hamilton produced 175 diesel locomotives in seven models from 1949 to 1951, but the diesel line struggled against the stronger market positions of Electro-Motive Division, Alco, and General Electric. A 1951 merger with Baldwin Locomotive Works created Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton, which discontinued the Lima-Hamilton designs and ultimately left locomotive production in 1956. Afterward, the Lima plant was used for construction cranes and other equipment, including Lima-branded products associated with Clark Equipment Company. The facility closed after construction-equipment production ended in 1980. Remaining historic structures were later dismantled, and the former erecting shed and heavy Shay shops were demolished in 1998. Lima's historical importance is preserved through surviving locomotives, museum collections, tourist railways, archival records, and builder's drawings. Several Lima-built locomotives remain operational or publicly displayed in the United States and abroad.
- 1998
Historic locomotive shops demolished
[1]The former erecting shed and heavy Shay shops were dismantled.
- 1980
Lima factory closes
[1]Production of cranes and construction equipment ended and the Lima factory was closed and sold.
- 1956
Locomotive production ends
[1]Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton completed its final diesel locomotive and exited the locomotive market.
- 1951
Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton formed
[1]Lima-Hamilton merged with Baldwin Locomotive Works; the Lima-Hamilton diesel range was subsequently discontinued.
- 1949
Final Lima-Hamilton steam locomotive completed
[1]Nickel Plate Road No. 779 became the company's last steam locomotive, while diesel production expanded.
- 1947
Lima-Hamilton Corporation formed
[1]Lima merged with General Machinery Corporation and became Lima-Hamilton Corporation.
- 1942
M4A1 Sherman production begins
[1]The Lima plant entered wartime tank manufacturing and produced M4A1 Sherman tanks.
- 1925
A-1 Super Power demonstrator completed
[1]Lima completed the A-1, a prototype 2-8-4 that helped establish the Berkshire type.
- 1922
H-10 experimental locomotive delivered
[1]William E. Woodard's experimental 2-8-2 for New York Central provided the foundation for Lima's Super Power engineering program.
- 1916
Lima Locomotive Works name adopted
[1]Following acquisition by Joel Coffin and Samuel G. Allen, the company adopted the Lima Locomotive Works name.
Products and positioning
Historic American locomotive builder known for geared logging locomotives, heavy steam power, and the development of the Super Power design philosophy.
Geared steam locomotive · 1878
Shay locomotive
Lima's best-known product was the Shay geared steam locomotive, built under license from Ephraim Shay and adapted for logging and industrial railways. Its vertically mounted cylinders drove a longitudinal shaft and geared trucks, giving it strong low-speed pulling capability on steep grades and rough track. Shay locomotives became a major Lima product in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and many examples remain preserved or operational on heritage railways.
Heavy mainline steam locomotive · 1922
Super Power steam locomotives
The Super Power family embodied William E. Woodard's effort to increase sustained locomotive horsepower. Lima combined larger fireboxes with improved superheating, feedwater heating, drafting, steam passages, boiler pressure, and related efficiency measures. The approach shifted design emphasis from starting tractive effort toward useful power at speed and influenced later heavy steam locomotives built by multiple manufacturers.
Steam locomotive · 1925
Berkshire 2-8-4
Lima's A-1 demonstrator introduced the 2-8-4 Berkshire configuration to demonstrate Super Power principles. The four-wheel trailing truck supported a large firebox and ash pan, allowing greater steaming capacity and longer operation between ash cleanings. The design attracted orders from Boston & Albany and other railroads. Lima-built Berkshires, including Nickel Plate Road No. 765 and Pere Marquette No. 1225, are among the company's best-known preserved locomotives.
Armored vehicle · 1942
M4A1 Sherman tank
During the Second World War, Lima diversified into military production and manufactured the M4A1 version of the Sherman tank. The program used the company's industrial capacity for defense production and included vehicles intended for British service.
Diesel-electric locomotive · 1949
Lima-Hamilton diesel locomotives
After steam production ended, Lima-Hamilton produced diesel-electric locomotives from 1949 to 1951. The company built 175 locomotives across seven models, but the range faced intense competition from Electro-Motive Division, Alco, and General Electric. Following the Baldwin merger, the Lima-Hamilton designs were dropped in favor of Baldwin's existing products.
Controversies
1944
Chesapeake & Ohio H-8 weight dispute
Lima's stated weight for its Chesapeake & Ohio H-8 locomotives was later found to be lower than the weight calculated by maintenance personnel. Because crews were compensated in part according to locomotive weight on the driving wheels, the discrepancy led to compensation payments by the railroad and a lawsuit against Lima seeking more than three million dollars. The dispute damaged Lima's standing and is commonly associated with the company's subsequent decline.
Brand decisions
1951
Merge with Baldwin Locomotive WorksM&ABackground
Lima-Hamilton's diesel business was unable to match the market strength of leading diesel-electric locomotive manufacturers.
Action taken
Lima-Hamilton merged with Baldwin Locomotive Works to create Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation.
Aftermath
The Lima-Hamilton diesel line was discontinued, and Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton left locomotive manufacturing in 1956.
1949
End steam production and pursue diesel locomotivesGeneration changeBackground
Railroads were increasingly evaluating diesel-electric traction as an alternative to steam, while Lima-Hamilton's traditional steam market was contracting.
Action taken
Lima-Hamilton completed Nickel Plate Road No. 779, its final steam locomotive, and shifted production toward diesel locomotives.
Aftermath
The company produced 175 diesels through 1951, but the range was discontinued after the Baldwin merger.
1947
Merge with General Machinery CorporationM&ABackground
Lima faced weakening demand for traditional steam locomotives and needed a broader industrial and commercial base.
Action taken
Lima combined with General Machinery Corporation of Hamilton, Ohio, forming Lima-Hamilton Corporation.
Aftermath
The combined company completed the transition from steam to diesel production, but its diesel range did not overcome strong competition and was later absorbed into Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton.
1942
Diversify into wartime tank productionStrategyBackground
The Second World War created demand for military equipment and provided an opportunity to use Lima's manufacturing capacity beyond locomotive production.
Action taken
The Lima plant began producing M4A1 Sherman tanks, including vehicles for British use.
Aftermath
The program broadened Lima's wartime industrial role, although the company's later postwar difficulties centered on locomotive competition and the H-8 weight dispute.
1922
Adopt the Super Power engineering strategyProduct launchBackground
Lima sought to move beyond its established niche in geared logging locomotives and compete for large railroad orders. William E. Woodard's experimental work showed that steam locomotive performance could be improved by increasing sustained horsepower and overall boiler efficiency.
Action taken
Lima developed the H-10 experimental 2-8-2 for New York Central and used the results to promote a broader Super Power design philosophy.
Aftermath
The program led to the A-1 demonstrator, the Berkshire type, and a wider influence on North American heavy steam locomotive design.
Recent events
- 1956
Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton exits locomotive manufacturing[1]
Other
Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton completed its final diesel locomotive and withdrew from the locomotive market.
- 1951
Lima-Hamilton and Baldwin merge[1]
M&A
Lima-Hamilton merged with Baldwin Locomotive Works to form Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton, ending the independent Lima-Hamilton identity.
- 1949
Lima-Hamilton completes final steam locomotive[1]
Product generation
Nickel Plate Road No. 779 became the final steam locomotive completed by Lima-Hamilton, while the company shifted toward diesel production.
- 1947
Lima merges with General Machinery Corporation[1]
M&A
Lima combined with General Machinery Corporation of Hamilton, Ohio, creating Lima-Hamilton Corporation.
- 1942
Lima enters wartime Sherman tank production[1]
Other
The Lima plant began manufacturing M4A1 Sherman tanks, including vehicles supplied for British wartime use.
- 1925
A-1 demonstrator introduces the Berkshire configuration[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Lima's A-1 demonstrator applied the Super Power approach to a 2-8-4 locomotive and helped establish the Berkshire wheel arrangement as a major American steam design.
- 1922
Lima develops the Super Power locomotive concept[1]
Product generation · Product launch
William E. Woodard's work on the New York Central H-10 experimental 2-8-2 established the engineering direction that led to Lima's Super Power steam locomotives.
- 1878
Lima builds its first Shay-type locomotive[1]
Product launch
Lima Machine Works constructed the first locomotive based on Ephraim Shay's geared design, beginning the company's most distinctive product line.
Sources1 sources
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