LE&E class Z-1 5705 leads a hotshot reefer block eastbound in June of 1944. Having retired most older steam power during the depression while vigorously attempting to modernize their steam fleet, the LE&E was faced with a serious power crunch during the early years of WWII. While as many older locomotives were pulled off of the deadlines as possible, with much of the older fleet sold off, the railroad found it extremely necessary to acquire new power as fast as possible. Delivery of 10 class R-3c Northerns in 1942 barely helped, and with delivery of more FTs blocked by the War Production Board due to other roads receiving priority, the WPB suggested the LE&E (along with partner CA&L) turn to the N&W's Roanoke shops to assist. With traffic levels reaching new peaks by 1943, the 25 class Z-1 2-6-6-4s (based on N&W's class A design) bought the LE&E enough time to wait for other locomotive manufacturers, already stressed by the dual responsibilities of retooling for war manufacturing
and shopping out new power for American railroads, to deliver more standard LE&E power. While extremely useful in dealing with wartime demands, the locomotives remained orphans on the LE&E postwar, and were all scrapped or sold off by 1950.
Note the smaller tender behind the locomotive, necessitated by a rear-end collision a little less than a month earlier, severely damaging 5705's tender. Rushing to get the locomotive, relatively unharmed in the incident, back on the road, a tender was borrowed from a 2-10-2 awaiting shop work. The mechanical stoker was hastily modified to fit the massive articulated, and within a few days time the locomotive was back at work. It would retain the tender until August, when a new one would be produced from the LE&E's Cincinnatti shops.