SUNOL, Calif. — The boiler of Southern Pacific 2-6-0 No. 1744 has been moved to the Stockton Locomotive Works shop in Antonito, Colo., for restoration, concluding the move portion of the Pacific Locomotive Association effort to return the 1901 Baldwin-built locomotive to service.
Work on the running gear for the locomotive, which operated out of Oakland and in California’s Central Valley, is under way at the Niles Canyon Railway yard in Sunol after its recent arrival there [see “Frame, running gear for SP locomotive arrive at Niles Canyon Railway,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 3, 2020].
The non-profit, all-volunteer heritage railway encourages donations to help return this classic Southern Pacific Locomotive to service. Visit the No. 1744 page at the PLA website for more information and to donate. The organization announced photo charters featuring 2-4-4-2 locomotive “Skookum” to benefit the project last week [see “Niles Canyon Railway photo charters to feature ‘Skookum’ …,” News Wire, Oct. 26, 2020].