Between 1929 and 1944, the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad, a class II company connecting Conneaut, Erie, and Bessemer,[1] ordered a fleet of 47 H-1 class 2-10-4 "Texas" types,[2] which were nearly direct copies of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy's own fleet of 2-10-4 "Colorado" types, from the American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, New York, and the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The H-1 series was assigned to heavy freight work on the B&LE, hauling trains of iron ore from lake freighters at docks on eastern Lake Erie to steel mills in the Pittsburgh area, and coal trains back to the lakefront.

Although capable and modern examples of steam power, all the H-1s had completed their last revenue freight assignments and had their fires dropped for the final time by the end of 1952.

By the end of the decade, almost all locomotives of this particular design were sold for scrap, including all the CB&Q's Colorado types and all the DM&IR's 2-10-4s.

643 was moved under compressed air to test its movement and running gear, and the locomotive was also test-fired to determine its steaming capabilities.

In 2006, a snow storm caused cracks to form in the beams supporting the roof of the shops, forcing the movement of No.

In the spring of 2019, however, Campbell decreased the price to $375,000 on EBay,[10] with the added publicity that the locomotive was at risk of being scrapped.

[12] The acquisition was in tribute to the museum's late founder, Jerry Joe Jacobson, who nicknamed 643 “The King” and had long sought to add the locomotive to his roster.

643's boiler was separated from its frame and running gear, and the tender and appliances such as the headlight were moved first to Sugarcreek.

643 followed, being loaded onto a flatcar and moved via CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway to the Age of Steam Roundhouse.

As of August 2024, 643’s frame and boiler have been rejoined and the locomotive is undergoing cosmetic repairs in the museum’s back shop.