Southern Pacific

On September 4th, 2022, the Golden Gate Railroad Museum held an Open House and Steam Up event at their Schellville yard. GGRM Returned Southern The Golden Gate Railroad Museum returned Southern Pacific #2472 to steam for the final weekend, before it’s 15-year boiler rebuild at the end of 2022. The original plan was to run excursions from Schellville to the Napa River on the NWP, but that was cancelled due to unsafe bridge conditions.
The event ended up being a static display of 2 former Southern Pacific locomotives, steamed up and running for all to see.
The first being #2472, A 4-6-2 P-8 Class Steam locomotive with debatably the best sounding steam whistle ever.
#3194, a GP9 that still retains its “bloody nose” paint scheme.
And last but not least, “Southern Pacific” #1487, a rare Fairbanks Morse H-12-44 locomotive. The engine is not an SP unit at all, but rather former U.S. Army #1847. After being purchased by GGRM in 1995, it was then painted to replicate an SP diesel; even receiving ash-can gyralights to complete the look. The real #1487 did exist, but is said to have been scrapped long ago.
Also on display were other pieces of GGRM’s collection, such SP - 2979, a Club-Lounge car that has been fully restored to reflect its appearance in 1954. Although the day wasn’t quite what was planned, it was still an amazing sight to see and hear. Thank you GGRM for a great time out.

[@evanf1293]

I almost had plans to go and see SP 2472 this weekend, but just a week before the excursions got canceled, my own plans for that trip were canceled. Mainly because if I was going to attend the event, I was gonna be staying with some of my family that lives in nearby Sacramento. However, they already had plans for the weekend as it's my cousins Adian and Zach's 18th birthday, so because of that my plans fell through. I do hope to see 2472 in the future, and I hope to do the same for 2479 when its rebuild is complete and it's running at its new home of the Niles Canyon Railway.

[@brianfalzon6739]

Yeah, it would be awesome if 2472 reunites with its sister 2479 for a doubleheader like she did with other sister 2467.

[@evanf1293]

@@brianfalzon6739 The chances are very slim. 1, I doubt there are any plans for 2467 to run again or go anywhere. And 2 the chances of 2472 leaving Scheville are slim atm mainly because its now due for a rebuild

[@railroad9000]

Love the look of that style of tender and the sound of the idling diesel!

[@trainknut]

Nice to hear the old girl sing one last time before her fire is dropped for the foreseeable future.
Hopefully her restoration is thorough and swift.

[@4321grp]

Southern Pacific #2472 really does have a great sounding whistle. It's great that it's restored to operating condition.

[@RedwoodCreekRailroad]

It sounds fantastic. Sadly the rebuild planned hasn’t happened yet. GGRM says that will happen sometime after the end of 2022 and can take years.

[@thomasavensjr.2790]

Southern Pacific 2472 is always enjoyable to observe in operation and is one of my favorite preserved "Pacific" 4-6-2 type locomotives. The 2472 represents a handsome and sleek looking example of steam power that SP operated in passenger service during the steam era.

[@RailsofLosAngeles]

Cool to see SP 2472 before it retired from excursions on the line.

[@mr.sir.]

Her whistle needs a tune up.. Gotta sound more like 4449, or 1744 but she's looking good!

[@theroaringsteamproductions643]

Wow, cool 😎

[@RedwoodCreekRailroad]

Thank you!

[@theroaringsteamproductions643]

Np 😉

[@SPNGMalibu18]

Great!

[@RedwoodCreekRailroad]

Thanks!

[@rogerlollar4325]

2472 is their baby

[@RedwoodCreekRailroad]

That it is.

[@ZAV1944]

3194 looks like she could stand a new coat of paint, her bloody nose is looking a bit orange.

[@richierich2048]

Just for the sake of clarity, FM number 1487 was never a Southern Pacific locomotive. It's former U.S. Army 1847. GGRM restored it as a representation of an SP locomotive.

[@RedwoodCreekRailroad]

Oh! That’s good to know. I remember reading something about that a while back but I didn’t know it was this locomotive. Thank you.

[@mow4ncry]

And was built in 1953 bought by the Golden gate railroad museum from the army for $850

[@SPORTSBOY101]

At the start the whistle bro 2472 was showing aggression but nowth e hor sounds pretty oldthey should change it

[@thebone3412]

Where is 2472 at now days?

[@RedwoodCreekRailroad]

The new home of the GGRM is in Schellville, CA.

[@trainman22711]

Were there a lot of small children around in this video?

[@RedwoodCreekRailroad]

Not too many. It was extremely hot.

[@trainman22711]

Ok.

[@esterribeirotrens.8456]

Parabéns pelo Canal...abraço aqui do meu Brasil 🇧🇷

[@RedwoodCreekRailroad]

Thank you so much!

[@mow4ncry]

I am the one firing up the two diesels

[@RedwoodCreekRailroad]

Awesome! Pretty sure we talked.