Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Test Dept.

The Test Department was a subunit of the Motive Power Department and consisted of two interrelated but autonomous bodies, the Department of Physical Tests and the Chemical Laboratory.

The Department of Physical Tests was created in March, 1874, and the first test was conducted on April 4. The work was initially performed by the Master Mechanic of the Altoona Shops, but in August, 1874, John W. Cloud was put in charge of the department. He was given the title Engineer of Tests in May, 1879.

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