This oil burner was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works and delivered brand new in 1922 to Jamestown, CA's Sierra Railroad...and she's been there ever since. Sierra's steam engines ran faithfully until 1955, when the company upgraded to diesel and moved their operation to Oakdale, CA some 40 miles away. The steam engines were stored at Jamestown's roundhouse, under lock and key...but they wouldn't be locked up long! In 1958, Hollywood discovered this treasure tucked away in middle of gold country, and the old locomotives came back to life.
Their credits are extensive. They could be spotted in television programs such as "Little House on the Prairie" "Gunsmoke" "Bonanza" "Petticoat Junction" "The Big Valley" "The Lone Ranger". They are present in such notable films as "High Noon" "The Unforgiven" "The Long Riders" "The Virginian" "Pale Rider" "Back to the Future 3".
With diesel now the mode of railroad travel, it wasn't long before the public developed a nostalgic interest in the old locomotives. Sierra began offering passenger excursions, and it was very popular. So much so that in 1971, Sierra changed the name of their Jamestown operation to "Railtown 1897", the year the railroad came into existance.
By 1978, the railroad's freight operation began losing money, and by 1979, inflation and declining tourism brought an end to Sierra's steam-led passenger excursions.
But this time the state of California came to the rescue, and purchased "Railtown 1897". In 1983, passenger service was back up and running. Now a public entity and a state park, Railtown's steam locomotives began a new career. In addition to continued work for "Hollywood", the park's engines 3 and 28 began taking passengers for leisurely rides through California's Mother Lode.
While four Sierra Railroad steam locomotives continue to make their home at the roundhouse in Jamestown, only the #28 is currently operational. Lack of state funding has placed a temporary halt on repair work to the others, as old steam locomotives have a very pricey upkeep bill. Public interest is slowly helping raise the funds to put the #3's boiler back in action, and the #2 Shay is only in need of some minor repairs.
But, the 28 continues to pass boiler inspections with flying colors...let's hope she keeps doing so! She's a tough old girl.
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Here's the 28 making her latest television appearance in a commercial for AFLAC! Check out their site at http://www.aflac.com/us/en/aboutaflac/aflaccommercials.aspx and select "Silent Movie".