Steam Saturday: Together Again

Southern Pacific 4-6-2 No. 2467. Originally retired in December 1956

To railroad enthusiasts the 1950s was the steam to diesel transition era when both types of motive power were in revenue service at the same time.

I’m sure both often many cross paths prior to the steamers being retired.

Southern Pacific was very generous when it comes to preservation. More than 60 steamers of various sizes were donated to cites and museums.

The same applies to vintage diesels with more than 40 having been donated.

Shown in this post are a few examples of both type of motive power that were all retired by SP. They were all restored to active service later and were together at some time again in the 1990s.

All of the photographs are from the California State Railroad Museum’s Railfairs held in 1991 and 1999.

SP2472 was at the 1991 event while SP2467 was at the 1999 event. All the others were present at both festivals.

Article and Photographs by Edward Ribinskas

Southern Pacific 4-8-4 No. 4449. Originally retired in October 1957.

Southern Pacific 4-6-2 No. 2472. Originally retired February 1957

Southern Pacific E9A 6051. Built 1954

Southern Pacific GP9 No. 5623. Built 1955

Southern Pacific DRS66-1500 No. 5208. Built 1949.

Steamtown Drew 99,000 Plus in 2016

Steamtown National Historical Site reported this week that it drew more than 99,000 visitors in 2016.

That was a 10 percent increase over the 89,500 who came in 2015. The park drew 84,200 in 2014.

Steamtown Superintendent Deborah Conway said visitation last year might have topped 100,000 but for poor weather in December. Steamtown last drew more than 100,000 visitors in 2012.

Park officials attributed the uptick in visitors in 2016 to the return of steam locomotive powered excursions and the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

Through 2000, Steamtown regularly attracted more than 150,000 visitors, hosting 211,000 in 1995. The low point was 2006 when visitation bottomed out at 61,000.

By comparison, the California State Railroad museum draws nearly 500,000 a year and the B&O Railroad Museum has annual attendance around 200,000.

Steamtown’s Baldwin Locomotive Works 0-6-0 No. 26 pulled short trips around Scranton, Pennsylvania, during 2016.