Steam & Excursion > This Locomotive's Long History Of Being Displayed By Her Owner!

Few steam locomotives have been on display longer than has this one.  Perhaps this is due to the fact that few locomotives are able to trace their roots back to the very beginning of their owners first efforts to connect the nation from coast to coast by rail like this one can.

Here we see the famous C. P. Huntington, on her first display outside the Southern Pacific shops in Sacramento, California in 1916.  Built in 1863 by the Central Pacific, she was destined to be SP's fist engine to carry the #1.  Despite this notable history, after she was rebuilt several times and nearly scrapped after being used by the SP as a weed-burner, #1 was saved and polished up for display at the 1915 Pacific International Exposition. 

In this 1916 photo, #1 has been placed on what would be the first of many display locations by the SP for her next 100+ years.  While most of her later diplay locations were accessable to the public, this one was intended for, and cared for, by simply the railroad men themselves, for whom she meant the most.

Martin



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 02/17/19 03:33 by LoggerHogger.

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Currently on display at the California State Railroad Museum. B

Can you imagine that engine on display in front of the Sacramento depot today,  as it was for many years (along with SP 4294)?   It would be reduced to junk in no time,  given the local denizens around there these days.

Interesting. The display site is complete with curbing around it, a neatly trimmed and edged lawn and signage. As you noted, a source of pride for the workers.

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Ryan Barber
Stockton, CA

And yet this is not the oldest SP predicessor locomotive still in existance.
  EP&SW #1 is older.
  It is amazing they both survived both world war scrap drives.
Dreamer