Southern Pacific Class P-8
| Southern Pacific Class P-8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Southern Pacific Class P-8 was a class of 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotives that were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company in 1921.[1][2]
History[edit]
In all, a total of 15 locomotives of what had become the Southern Pacific Class P-8 were ever constructed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1921 and they were all numbered as 2461-2475.[1][2] They were designed to be used on the Southern Pacific specifically for the Overland Route from Ogden, Utah, to Oakland, California.[1]
The P-8 locomotives had thrived until the larger, more powerful Mt-class of 4-8-2s were delivered in the late 1920s. Most of the P-8s were then transferred further west for service between Oakland, California and Sacramento, California, along with the demanding Peninsula Commute services between San Francisco, California and San Jose, California.[1]
Withdrawal of the class commenced in 1958, and all but two were scrapped.[1]
Preservation[edit]
Two locomotives have survived into preservation.[1]
- 2467 had ran in operational condition until August 2005 when No. 2467 was subsequently towed back to the California State Railroad Museum (CSRM) in Sacramento, California, where a long-term loan was signed to keep the locomotive in storage at the CSRM's property.[3][4] As of 2022, No. 2467 is still stored serviceable while being displayed inside the CSRM's main hall with the chances of it running in operational condition being unlikely.[5]
- 2472 was donated to San Mateo County, California, where they had put the locomotive on static display at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds, it remained there in that spot until 1976 when a group of volunteers decided to restore the locomotive to operating condition. Restoration work was completed on April 30, 1991, the locomotive had also met up with Southern Pacific GS-4 #4449,[6][7] as of 2023, No. 2472 is undergoing a 1,472-day inspection and overhaul.[8][9][10]
See also[edit]
- Southern Pacific 2479 (Southern Pacific Class P-10)
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f Dunscomb (1963), p. 163
- ^ a b Solomon (2005), p. 27
- ^ "Steam Locomotive Information". www.steamlocomotive.info. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ Luna (2005), p. 66
- ^ "Southern Pacific #2467". Niles Canyon Railway. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
- ^ Solomon (2009), p. 121-122, 125
- ^ Solomon (2013), p. 123-127
- ^ "SP 2472: Baldwin P-8 4-6-2". Golden Gate Railroad Museum. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- ^ "Southern Pacific 4-6-2 2472 to Lead Excursions For First Time Since 2015". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. August 8, 2022.
- ^ "Southern Pacific 2472 Excursion Canceled". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. August 24, 2022.
Bibliography[edit]
- Dunscomb, Guy L. (1963). A Century of Southern Pacific Steam Locomotives, 1862-1962. Guy L. Dunscomb.
- Luna, Henry J. (2005). Niles Canyon Railways. Arcadia. ISBN 9780738529837.
- Solomon, Brian (2013). Classic Locomotives: Steam and Diesel Power in 700 Photographs. Voyageur Press. ISBN 9781610588683.
- Solomon, Brian (2005). Southern Pacific Passenger Trains. Voyageur Press. ISBN 9781610605076.
- Solomon, Brian (2009). Steam Power. Voyageur Press. ISBN 9781616732103.
Further reading[edit]
- Strapac, Joseph A.; Diebert, Timothy (1987). Southern Pacific Steam Locomotive Compendium. Shade Tree Books. ISBN 9780930742126.
- Karam Jr., Duane; Ainsworth, Jeff (1999). Southern Pacific, Pacific 4-6-2 Pictorial, Photo Album Series Volume 6. Monte Vista Publishing. ASIN B000KHIMEY.
External links[edit]
