Southern Pacific 2472

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**SP 2472**
Power type	Steam

Builder	Baldwin Locomotive Works
Serial number	54477
Build date	January 1921
Configuration	4-6-2
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm)
Driver size	73 in diameter
Weight on drivers	180,700 lb
Locomotive weight	297,800 lb
Boiler pressure	200 psi
Cylinder size	25 in dia × 30 in stroke
Tractive effort	43,660 lbf
Career	Southern Pacific
Class	P-8
Number in class	15
Number	2472
Delivered	April 15, 1921
Retired	February 7, 1957
Current owner	Golden Gate Railroad Museum
Disposition	Serviceable at the Niles Canyon Railway

Southern Pacific 2472 is a 4-6-2 Pacific type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) in 1921. It had 4 leading wheels, 6 drivers, and 2 trailing wheels.

2472 and sister Pacific locomotives served the Overland Route from Ogden, Utah, to Oakland, California. On November 30, 1929, SP's Ogden shops added a feedwater heater to the locomotive, which increased its overall weight to 300,000 lb. 2472 again underwent a rebuild at SP's Bayshore shops in Brisbane, California (San Mateo County), completed on November 26, 1940, that increased its boiler pressure to 210 psi and its tractive effort to 45,850 lb.

After being replaced by the 4-8-2 "Mountain" type locomotives, 2472 and all other Pacific locomotives were sent to work Sacramento-Oakland, California passenger trains and San Francisco-San Jose, California commute trains, along with occasional freight service. The locomotive's revenue service life ended in 1957 when steam locomotives were being replaced by diesel locomotives, and on April 10, 1959, 2472 was donated to San Mateo County, which put 2472 on static display at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds.^[1] It remained there until 1976 when a group of volunteers decided to restore the locomotive.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, 2472 pulled several excursions and Caltrain specials such as the Trains for Tots, and even double-headed on an excursion with famed steam locomotive Southern Pacific 4449.

Southern Pacific 2472 recently received FRA-mandated boiler work at Hunters Point Naval Base in San Francisco, the former site of the Golden Gate Railroad Museum, which was evicted from this location in 2006. The initial equipment move took place in February, 2006, although an extended lease on the shop building at the Point allowed work to continue on the 2472 until the following December. On December 31, 2006, SP 2472 and remaining pieces of GGRM rolling stock completed the relocation of the GGRM collection to the Niles Canyon Railway located in Sunol, California, on the east side of San Francisco Bay.

The locomotive became serviceable as of February, 2008, and is now stored at the NCRy's Brightside Yard awaiting opportunities and other locations to operate.^[2]

SP 2472 is one of three surviving Southern Pacific 4-6-2 Pacific locomotives.

[edit] References

Diebert, Timothy S. and Strapac, Joseph A. (1987). Southern Pacific Company Steam Locomotive Conpendium. Shade Tree Books, p 178. ISBN 0-930742-12-5.
http://www.ggrm.org/