Steam & Excursion > ex-SP2472 in Niles tomorrow

Thanks to the Golden Gate RR museum and Pacific Locomotive Association people of all ages enjoyed a trip from Sunol to Niles (pulled by FM diesel) and back (pulled by ex-SP2472 with a runby at Stairway to the Stars). Thanks to everyone who made this weekend most enjoyable.

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Did she have whitewalls in service?

I think its an interesting question how long white sidewalls would have lasted in service. I would not be too surprised if they wore off inside a month or two if not washed or renewed fairly regularly. If that is true almost any engine might have had white sidewalls at one time or another and there might not be any existing documentation.

Haruo, great photos. Glad to see you out railfanning once again.

Does anyone know how to construct a blowdown muffler such as the one in picture #2? or where I could find plans or drawings that show how one could be made?

One of the last in-service photos of 2472 is a was taken in the 1950s by Neil Vodden (a S.P. engineer), while pacing X2472 eastbound (southbound by compass) alongside "blood alley" (the old Monterey Highway / Highway 101) near San Martin. The occasion was Charlie Ward's first road trip as a fireman. 2472 was heading to Watsonville to pick up a hot block of reefers, probably loaded with strawberries. Anyway, the photo clearly shows whitewall tires and even stars on the driving wheel centers.

What we don't know is who painted the tires and stars. Charlie Ward was one of the neighborhood kids who unofficially helped at Lenzen Avenue roundhouse after school. It's an old tradition. I suspect he was wiping locos and maybe hostling under supervision long before he officially was hired by the S.P. Charlie loved the classic old ways of the steam era, so he just might have been the person who painted the tires and stars.

Charlie and Neil have both gone on to the big roundhouse in the sky, but you can be sure they're proud to know that S.P. 2472 is running today.

Trains leave Sunol today at 11:00am, 1:00pm, and 3:00pm. Details at www.ggrm.org

- Doug Debs

The stars are indicative of the type of lubricant for the driver bearings. 4449 has that blowdown muffler and there must be a million photos on the net of the fireman's side showing it. Actually there is one on each side.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/14 14:15 by nycman.

We are all concerned about the danger of walking on the slippery rails.

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