In 1938 the Atlantic Coast Line received twelve 4-8-4s of class R-1 from Baldwin Locomotive Works. They were intended to replace smaller power and thereby eliminate double-heading or extra sections on the railroad's popular passenger service between Richmond, Virginia and Jacksonville, Florida. While eminently capable of handling the larger trains, the R-1s proved to have a problem with dynamic augment, or unbalanced pounding of the rails, when running at speed. Although Baldwin redesigned the drivers and running gear the problem was not fully corrected, and these handsome locomotives were reassigned to freight service as soon as the ACL could replace them with EMD E-3 and E-6 diesels. No. 1800, first of the R-1s, poses for August A. Thieme, Jr. at Richmond, Virginia on an unknown occasion. For the specifications of the R-1 class, see the following page for No. 1809.