Steam & Excursion > All Ready For The Big Show But This One Won't Be In Steam!

In just a couple weeks we will mark the 62nd anniversary of the famous "Farewell To Steam" run on the Sierra Railroad of Jamestown, California.  Here we see an image from the day before that big event.

As most of us recall, the Sierra rang down their age of steam in a grand manner with 2-6-6-2 #38 and 2-8-0 #28 double-heading a long sold out train from Oakdale to Jamestown and back along with trusty 4-6-0 #3 under steam at the Jamestown depot for show with the old Angels Branch coaches.  However there was one more Sierra steam locomotive that also played an important role on that rainy day.

Sierra ALCO 2-8-2 #36 was to play a ceremonial role on April 17, 1955 by having a funeral wreath hung on her spot plate marking the passing of the age of steam on the Sierra.  #36 would not be under steam for this role as she was to play the "deceased" in this final ceremony.

This fine view was taken on the afternoon of April 16, 1955, the day before the big event.  We see that the handsome #36 has been turned on the Jamestown turntable to have her face South and has been spotted cold in front of the freight she next to the Sierra RR depot in Jamestown.

The area is devoid of people when our photographer took this portrait of #36.  That will all chenge by the next afternoon when she will be surroounded by hundreds ofr people for the famous "laying of the wreath" ceremony.  After that is completed, the double-header will whistle out of town and old #3 will steam back to her berth in the Jamestown roundhouse.  The newly dellivered diesel will then be used to take the cold #36 still wearing her wreath back to her stall in the roundhouse to wait out her future, which will have to come at a different railroad than the Sierra.

Glenn Beier took the last 2 photos during the actual ceremony the next day on April 17, 1955.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/17 07:18 by LoggerHogger.

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It's raining in the wreath picture.  How prophetic.

Any identity on the two men on the left. I believe it's Bill Cheney and Gus Swanson, but not sure?  The pair on front of engine are Bill and Marge Wenneson.

Brian,

Here is an enlargment.  Does this help ID the 2 men?

Martin

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     I'm wondering if it is possible that Louis Stein was there.....perhaps our own KRK would know.
AA

Stanford White
Carmel Valley, CA

What is the gizmo on the roof of the freight house above 36's bell in the first photo? 

Absolutely love all the headgear on the attendees!

-John

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
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> What is the gizmo on the roof of the freight house
> above 36's bell in the first photo? 

Looks like a cooling tower..... Maybe for a small refrigeration system they had in the freight house?

Posted from Android

Oh! Just noticed the band up on the platform! Wonder what tunes they were playing that day?!.probably some very sad ones in minor keys?

Jim Baker
Riverside, CA