Southern Pacific 2472
| SP 2472 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Specifications | |
| Power type | Steam |
| Builder | Baldwin Locomotive Works |
| Serial number | 54477 |
| Build date | January 1921 |
| Configuration | 4-6-2 |
| Gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Driver diameter | 73 in (1,854 mm) |
| Weight on drivers | 180,000 lb (82,000 kg) |
| Locomotive weight | 300,000 lb (140,000 kg)[1] |
| Fuel type | fuel oil |
| Boiler pressure | 210 psi (1.4 MPa) |
| Cylinder size | 25 in × 30 in (640 mm × 760 mm) |
| Tractive effort | 45,850 lbf (203.95 kN) |
| Career | |
| Railroad(s) | 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 | Operational 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. SP 2472 is one of three surviving Southern Pacific 4-6-2 Pacific locomotives. It has 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 (1,400 kPa) and 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,[2] was donated to San Mateo County, which put 2472 on static display at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds.[3] It remained there until 1976 when a group of volunteers decided to restore the locomotive.
In the 1990s and early 2000s (decade), 2472 pulled several excursions and Caltrain specials such as the Trains for Tots, and even double-headed on an excursion in 1992 (during the NRHS Convention) 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,[4] and is now stored at the NCRy's Brightside Yard awaiting opportunities and other locations to operate. The 2472 operates in Niles Canyon, usually on Memorial Day weekends and Labor Day weekends, and in the "Engineer for an Hour" program, dates to be announced.
References
- ↑ "www.steamlocomotive.info".
- ↑ Diebert, Timothy S. and Strapac, Joseph A. (1987). Southern Pacific Company Steam Locomotive Compendium. Shade Tree Books. p. 178. ISBN 0-930742-12-5.
- ↑ Johnsen, Kenneth G. (1990). Pacific: 2472's Family Album. Interurban Press, Glendale, California. p. 111. ISBN 0-87046-092-7.
- ↑ "Southern Pacific No. 2472 steams again after six years". Trains News Wire (Kalmbach Publishing). 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
External links
- "2472 in Niles Canyon (DVD about the 2008 Memorial Day Weekend Excursion in Niles Canyon".
- "Golden Gate Railroad Museum".