Steam & Excursion > Portland's "Other" Steam Locomotive On The Eve Of Her Donation!

We just celebrated National Train Day at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center in Portland, Oregon this past weekend.  Among the most popular attractions were the Daylight that was steamed up and operating and the SP&S #700 that is just beginning her 1472-Day inspection.  However, Portland's "3rd Steam Locomotive" was also on hand to bask in the celebration.

In 1957 when the City of Portland put the word out that they wanted representative steam locomotives donated for display, they contacted the 3 major railroads that served the City.  SP of course agreed to donate Daylight #4449 and the SP&S countered with 4-8-4 #700.  Union Pacific decided to contribute one of it's high-stepping passenger engines in the form of 4-6-2 #3203.

Built by Baldwin in May 1905 for Harriman's Oregon Railway & Navigation Co. as #197 she arrived just in time to take part in the 1905 Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition being held in Portland.  She was renumbered to #3203 in 1925 for parent Union Pacific.

This photo shows #3202 fresh out of the UP Albina Shops on January 4, 1958 just before she was placed on display in Oaks Park.  #4449 and #700 would follow her to the Park in just a few months.  It would not be until 1996 that #3203 would finally leave Oaks Park to join her sister engines, first at SP's Brooklyn Roundhouse and later at her current home at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center.

Restoration on #197 continues as time is available for her group of volunteers that are dedicated to her restoration to steam operation.  She will be quite a sight when she is done.

Martin



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 05/16/16 03:46 by LoggerHogger.

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Now that is a classic steam engine . .  love her lines and profile . . . .thanks Martin . . . I always click on your post first every day when I jump on this website.

Craig
http://mcmrailvideos.com/

If I lived in Portland I would donate my time to help in restoring her back to running.

Classic, simply classic

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I've said it before and I'll say it again! It was donated to the City of Portland as the 3203 and it should be rebuilt and remain the 3203! The 197 is gone! It was gone after the U.P. made it a 2 cylinder locomotive in the 20's! Whoever came up with the #197 idea needs to "get a grip" on it! Besides that, it looks rediculous with that big, old looking headlight and the getting rid of her Vanderbilt tender! My dad rode this engine many times between Portland and Huntington, Oregon when he was a head-end brakeman on passenger service during the 40's, and said she was a real Greyhound! (The 3203 that is...)

Never knew the history but seems that it should have remained as the UP dontated it not as a long gone engine sold from another RR. Just because it once was and then changed when sold doesnt mean it should return to something another had sold off. This is too bad.

BAB Wrote:
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> Never knew the history but seems that it should
> have remained as the UP dontated it not as a long
> gone engine sold from another RR. Just because it
> once was and then changed when sold doesnt mean it
> should return to something another had sold off.
> This is too bad.

Not "too bad" in my opinion!  You might want to look into the history of the OWR&N and the OR&N.

I grew up with the UP 2851 and UP 2856 on the St,J,& G.I. at Seneca.,Kansas, I loved these locomotives! The 3203 is a sister and I am glad to have her around. A paint job  does not bother me. Just glad to have the 3203/197 still with us. Thank you for taking care up her and Thank you to the people who made this happen. wag216

Note also the Erie-built to the right.

while the fame of the city of Portland's other two locomotives seems brighter.....the 197 has amazing and deep Portland history.  Portland was put on the world stage with the 1905 exposition and this locomotive was part of bringing 100,000s of people to that stage.  our Docents love talking about the 197 to our Oregon Rail Heritage Center visitors.     rebuilt in the Portland Albina shops.....the history goes on.   the decision has been made on the number.....let's move to questions that are still to be answered..... and wow, yet another great picture from the Hansen collection.    Arlen

asheldrake Wrote:
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> while the fame of the city of Portland's other two
> locomotives seems brighter.....the 197 has
> amazing and deep Portland history.  Portland was
> put on the world stage with the 1905 exposition
> and this locomotive was part of bringing 100,000s
> of people to that stage.  our Docents love
> talking about the 197 to our Oregon Rail Heritage
> Center visitors.     rebuilt in the Portland
> Albina shops.....the history goes on.   the
> decision has been made on the number.....let's
> move to questions that are still to be
> answered..... and wow, yet another great picture
> from the Hansen collection.    Arlen

Yes, a decision was made!.. By whom...I don't know, nor do I care. I just don't happen to agree with it! (I'll gracefully bow out now...)

patd3985 Wrote:
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> Yes, a decision was made!.. By whom...I don't
> know, nor do I care. I just don't happen to agree
> with it! (I'll gracefully bow out now...)

GREAT - thanks.

patd3985 Wrote:
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> Yes, a decision was made!.. By whom..

I'm thinking the people that are ACTUALLY DOING THE RESTORATION WORK!!!!!

.I don't
> know, nor do I care. I just don't happen to agree
> with it!

Now,,,,,,I thought you didn't care?

(I'll gracefully bow out now...)

I certainly hope so.

Any recent pics of the 197?  She is very camera-shy restoration project, to say the least, lol.

Sincerely,

TrackGuy

Trackguy.....good point, I will post a picture or two in the next couple of days.    Arlen

TrackGuy Wrote:
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> Any recent pics of the 197?  She is very
> camera-shy restoration project, to say the least,
> lol.

For that matter, any nostalgic shots of #197?

I don't know that I've ever seen the engine assembled
and in the livery she originally wore. 

I'm good with the restoration of the engine as she
delievered, though (and not that my permission is
required, lol), the fact that she was modified by
the UP, and... given to the city BY the Union
Pacific - seems that's how she should be restored?

I mean, if I gave you something my brother gave
me, would you then thank my brother?  Lol.

Some quick links for anyone's convenience:

The Friends of OR&N:
http://www.orn197.org/index.html

Wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OR%26N_197

Thanks for sharing the pic, Martin!

/Mitch

TrackGuy Wrote:
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> Any recent pics of the 197?  She is very camera-shy restoration project, to say the least, lol.

Here is one from about 2 months ago.​

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ble692 Wrote:
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> TrackGuy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Any recent pics of the 197?  She is
> very camera-shy restoration project, to say the
> least, lol.
>
> Here is one from about 2 months ago.​

WOW. Imagine THAT! She still has her vandy tender,,,,,,,so much for patd3985's comments.

HotWater Wrote:
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> WOW. Imagine THAT! She still has her vandy tender,,,,,,,so much for patd3985's comments.

Here's another photo from that end...​

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I wonder if anyone out there got pictures of us switching the 197 and 700 out on Saturday evening using the 4449? Typically we use Doyle's RSD-5 for most switching at the ORHC but at that moment, the way everything was situated at the end of the Train Day event, it made sense to just use the '49. Not something you usually get to see.

I have a picture in my head. Sorry I don't have one on the camera.

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