SP 2472

I first ran into the 2472 in the late 50’s after it had been retired and was sitting at Bayshore roundhouse near San Francisco awaiting its fate. Prior to the end of steam on the Southern Pacific, it had been assigned to commute service between SF and San Jose. Subsequently it was donated by SP to San Mateo County and moved to the county fair grounds. For a short time I was its informal self-appointed caretaker. Years later it was acquired by the Golden Gate Railroad Museum and moved to their restoration site at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard where it was restored to serviceable condition. While at Hunters Point it made occasional trips on first SP and later Caltrain. When redevelopment of Hunters Point forced GGRM to move, the 2472 was moved to the Niles Canyon Railway, operated by the Pacific Locomotive Association, where it resides as of this writing. GGRM and PLA cooperate in the operation of the engine on the NCRY, which is a portion of the former SP mainline to Tracy via Altamont Pass. Way back in 1956 a sister engine, the 2475, had taken me on my first steam powered fan trip over this line. These are a few pictures of SP 2472 taken over the years, including recent trips on the Niles Canyon line.