Lima in Allen County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Lima Locomotive Works

Industry & Innovation • Lima, OH

— Lima's Local History Hunt —

Lima Locomotive Works Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 25, 2026

1. Lima Locomotive Works Marker

Inscription. The Lima Locomotive Works, was one of America's largest steam locomotive builders, producing 7,752 locomotives between 1879 and 1951. It gained international fame with the patented Shay geared locomotive and later built mainline engines like the "Super-Power" Berkshire, as well as the Pacific, Mikado, and Allegheny. The company also manufactured cranes, shovels, road machinery, and more than 1,600 M4 Sherman tanks during World War II. Beyond transportation, it played a key role in advancing steam power technology.

Erected 2026 by America 250-Ohio Commission. (Marker Number 2.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the America 250: Ohio Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.

Location. 40° 44.283′ N, 84° 5.343′ W. Marker is in Lima, Ohio, in Allen County. It is at the intersection of South Shawnee Street and East Elm Street, on the right when traveling south on South Shawnee Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 199 S Shawnee St, Lima OH 45804, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Till Plains.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad Station from Uniopolis, Ohio (a few steps from this marker);

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a different marker also named Lima Locomotive Works (a few steps from this marker); Nickel Plate Road Berkshire-Type Locomotive No. 779 (a few steps from this marker); NKP Caboose No. 1091 (within shouting distance of this marker); Lima Memorial Health System (approx. ¼ mile away); James Daniels' Cabin (approx. 0.4 miles away); First Oil Well (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named James Daniel's Cabin (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lima.

Also see . . . Lima's Local History Hunt. (Submitted on April 26, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio.)

Lima Locomotive & Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad Depot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, April 25, 2026

2. Lima Locomotive & Detroit, Toledo and Ironton Railroad Depot

America 250-Ohio Commission image. Click for full size.

Photographed by America 250-Ohio Commission

3. America 250-Ohio Commission

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 26, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 29 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 26, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on April 30, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.