San Jose, Calif., group plans to move locomotive, roundhouse to Niles Canyon Railway

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A San Jose rail historical group has announced plans to relocate a Southern Pacific steam locomotive, roundhouse, and turntable to the Pacific Locomotive Association’s Niles Canyon Railway in Sunol, Calif.

The California Trolley and Railroad Corp. will move partially restored Southern Pacific 4-6-2 No. 2479, along with the roundhouse and its 80-foot turntable donated by SP in 1994 for a planned museum. The transfer of equipment will also include a 65-ton diesel acquired from Kaiser Permanente Cement, along with tools associated with the restoration of No. 2479. The locomotive has been under restoration since 1989 and is estimated to be 80% complete.

“Moving these important historical artifacts to the Niles Canyon Railway enables our organizations to better preserve the rail history of the Bay Area and to honor the thousands of hours donated by our volunteers,” Ken Middlebrook, California Trolley and Railroad president, said in a press release. “This partnership is an ideal opportunity to preserve these irreplaceable resources for future generations.”

The roundhouse, built in 1899 at Lenzen Avenue in San Jose, was used by SP until it was ruled to be structurally unsound after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Its move will address a long-standing need for the Niles Canyon facility.

“Our master plan has always included a roundhouse facility in Niles,” said Henry Baum, president of the Pacific Locomotive Association. “Both the roundhouse and locomotive are natural additions to our historic railroad collection.” The association will begin an aggressive search for funds to complete the project, he said.

Contractor Steam Services of America will manage the disassembly, move, and reassembly of the locomotive, to be funded by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors over a three-year period.