Nostalgia & History > mundo: AT&SF 3121 at Corona, CA, 1950

The first photo in the thread from yesterday featuring Ed Von Nordeck's photos of Santa Fe "catwhisker" FT's also included a glimpse of 2-8-2 #3121 in the engine spur at Corona, CA:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?11,4378900

Here are some closer views Ed took of 3121 the same day, April 23, 1950. The note on the negatives' envelope says, "Went to Elsinore sand plant on Sunday because strike was to be called the next Wednesday. Strike was put off for two weeks."

The thing I'm curious about is the class Tk-J tank car tied to 3121's tender. Was this a "water bottle" carrying extra water for the locomotive, or was it merely filled at Corona and was to be spotted at some location down the branch that didn't have a water supply of its own?

AT&SF 3121 was taken out of service pending disposition in September 1951, retired in March 1952, and sold for scrap on September 2, 1952.

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Don't think the tank car was being used as a "water bottle". Water was available at Elsinore which was only 21 miles from Corona.

Wonder what the tag on the smokebox door says?

Never saw a water car as a normal thing. The only reason I can come up with, maybe the water at Elsinore was unavailable for water line construction or maybe during a shortage of water which Elsinore had from time to time.

Maybe the tank had been filled with treated water for a steam pile driver in the area, and never operated on the branch.

Might also have been that the pump house at Corona was out of service for a day or two pending repairs.

I had not noticed this.

Seldom saw low numbered 3100 class, which had the high headlights.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/16/17 17:42 by mundo.

Frisco1522 Wrote:

> Wonder what the tag on the smokebox door says?

They were an inspection tag of some sort that would have a new date stamped below the previous date after each inspection. If you look closely, you'll see those tags on the smokebox doors of most Santa Fe steam locomotives.

here its in color

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Both locomotives appear to be hooked up to that red device on the right. What was it supplying?

Evan_Werkema Wrote:
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> Both locomotives appear to be hooked up to that
> red device on the right. What was it supplying?


Best guess...looks like its hooked up down by the mud ring, perhaps to the blowdown, but since there is steam coming from the cylinder relief valves, that might not be it...perhaps an air line tie in to the blower and atomizer?

True "Treasures".
Bob