Steam & Excursion > GGRM SP2472 steams for the 1st time in 6 years at NWP Schellville

With inspectors from the California PUC, SMART and the FRA onhand, ex-SP #2472 stretched her legs of the first time in almost six years on the legacy Northwestern Pacific yard in Schellville Wedneday afternoon. The GGRM Board is ready to actively explore opportunities for operation. The first image shows 88 year old legendary SP fireman John Teshara putting water in the boiler. A look over to the engineers side shows 200 lbs of steam in the gauge. Image three shows the 2472 running on the last segment of he S.P. line to Santa Rosa torn up just after WW2 started.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/07/21 18:07 by weather.

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GGRM volunteer and Army War Veteran Steve Coon does some last minute steam cleaning on the running gear prior to the first run. One of the last SP Steam fireman John Teshara leans out of the cab with a huge grin as the 2472 readies for its first move. (Darrel Tilcock, recentely retired from the Napa Wine Train started on the SP at Tracy as a fireman in 1952 and at 87 lives in Cordelia and rides his bike everyday to say in shape.). In the third image, just before its first move, the safety pops at around 220 lbs.on the 2472.  Script and images by Mike Pechner, Copyright, 2021, "All Rights Reserved."



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/07/21 07:26 by weather.

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Great to see her back under steam again.

Martin

What is her max operating pressure?  For some reason, 250 psi sounds high.

Frisco1522 Wrote:
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> What is her max operating pressure?  For some
> reason, 250 psi sounds high.

The label on the steam gauge says the safety lifts at 210.

weather Wrote:
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> A look over to the engineers side shows 200 lbs of
> steam in the gauge.

Interesting installation of what I assume is a digital speedometer in that one gauge.

Posted from iPhone

Great to see 2472 under steam again.  What are the operating possiblities right now where she is?

TrackGuy

TrackGuy Wrote:
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> Great to see 2472 under steam again.  What are
> the operating possiblities right now where she
> is?
>
> TrackGuy

I would think initially from Schellville to Napa Junction and Novato (Ignacio Wye) and then maybe going towards Healdsburg via Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and Windsor in the near future.

Would be great if smart let her run on weekends!

Posted from Android

Great news Mike, 
Some things don't change. Photo 4 reminded me of my late father's pic at mission bay. Steam on the NWP. Imagine that!
edit, search YouTube for a good video of this 100 💯 old locomotive steaming on her birthday year. 
 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/10/21 09:50 by dmaffei.

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Dave, thats a great picture!  Were those P-1s?

weather Wrote:
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> Dave, thats a great picture!  Were those P-1s?

Yes sir, First batch of Pacific class locomotives built in Schenectady in 1904. 2472 was a Baldwin born in 1921.
How about a Railroad days in Novato with 2472 as a guest at the Depot? (Your home town)👍

Great news, love the photos and the stories. So her at Railfair, but screwed up and didn’t skip high school physics the day she and 4449 ran the doubleheader to Oakland. Still regret that choice to this day!

Nathan

Posted from iPhone