Southern Pacific Class P-8

{{Short description|Class of 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotives}}

{{Infobox locomotive

| name = Southern Pacific Class P-8

| image = SP 2472 Coming into Paso Robles May 1994xRP - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg

| caption = Southern Pacific Class P-8 No. 2472 with Southern Pacific GP60 #9768 in 1994

| powertype = Steam

| builder = Baldwin Locomotive Works

| serialnumber =

| builddate = 1921

| totalproduction = 15

| rebuilddate =

| whytetype = 4-6-2

| uicclass = 2'C1'

| gauge = {{track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}

| driverdiameter = {{convert|73|in|0|abbr=on}}

| wheelbase = {{convert|75.80|ft|abbr=on}}

| engine total = {{convert|35.50|ft|abbr=on}}

| drivers = {{convert|13|ft|abbr=on}}

| axleload = {{convert|60,700|lbs|abbr=on}}

| weightondrivers = {{convert|180,000|lb|abbr=on}}

| locoweight = {{convert|297,800|lb|abbr=on}}

| tenderweight = {{convert|160,800|lbs|abbr=on}}

| locotenderweight = {{convert|457,800|lbs|abbr=on}}

| fueltype = Oil

| fuelcap = {{convert|4,000|usgal|abbr=on}}

| watercap = {{convert|12,000|usgal|abbr=on}}

| firearea = {{convert|70.40|sqft|abbr=on}}

| boilerpressure = {{convert|210|psi|MPa|abbr=on}}

| fireboxarea = {{convert|283|sqft|abbr=on}}

| cylindersize = {{convert|25|x|30|in|0|abbr=on}}

| valvegear = Walschaerts

| tractiveeffort = {{convert|46800|lbf|kN|2|abbr=on}}

| factorofadhesion = 4.15

| operator = Southern Pacific Transportation Company

| operatorclass = P-8

| numinclass =

| fleetnumbers = 2461-2475

| deliverydate =

| lastrundate =

| retiredate =

| preservedunits = Nos. 2467 and 2472

| restoredate =

| currentowner =

| disposition = Two preserved, remainder scrapped

}}The Southern Pacific Class P-8 was a class of 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotives that were built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Southern Pacific Transportation Company in 1921.{{Harvp|Dunscomb|1963|p=163}}{{Harvp|Solomon|2005|p=27}}

History

In all, a total of 15 locomotives of what had become the Southern Pacific Class P-8 were ever constructed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1921 and they were all numbered as 2461-2475. They were designed to be used on the Southern Pacific specifically for the Overland Route from Ogden, Utah, to Oakland, California.

The P-8 locomotives had thrived until the larger, more powerful Mt-class of 4-8-2s were delivered in the late 1920s. Most of the P-8s were then transferred further west for service between Oakland, California and Sacramento, California, along with the demanding Peninsula Commute services between San Francisco, California and San Jose, California.

Withdrawal of the class commenced in 1958, and all but two were scrapped.

Preservation

Two locomotives have survived into preservation.

2467 had run in operational condition until August 2005 when No. 2467 was subsequently towed back to the California State Railroad Museum (CSRM) in Sacramento, California, where a long-term loan was signed to keep the locomotive in storage at the CSRM's property.{{Harvp|Luna|2005|p=66}} As of 2022, No. 2467 is still stored serviceable while being displayed inside the CSRM's main hall with the chances of it running in operational condition being unlikely.{{Cite web |title=Southern Pacific #2467 |url=https://www.ncry.org/about/collection/steam/southern-pacific-2467/ |access-date=2022-07-26 |website=Niles Canyon Railway |language=en-US}}
2472 was donated to San Mateo County, California, where they had put the locomotive on static display at the San Mateo County Fairgrounds, it remained there in that spot until 1976 when a group of volunteers decided to restore the locomotive to operating condition. Restoration work was completed on April 30, 1991, the locomotive had also met up with Southern Pacific GS-4 #4449,{{Harvp|Solomon|2009|p=121-122, 125}}{{Harvp|Solomon|2013|p=123-127}} as of 2023, No. 2472 is undergoing a 1,472-day inspection and overhaul.{{cite web |title=SP 2472: Baldwin P-8 4-6-2 |url=http://www.ggrm.org/collection/SP2472 |accessdate=19 April 2020 |publisher=Golden Gate Railroad Museum}}{{cite web |date=August 8, 2022 |title=Southern Pacific 4-6-2 2472 to Lead Excursions For First Time Since 2015 |url=https://railfan.com/southern-pacific-4-6-2-2472-to-lead-excursions-for-first-time-since-2015/ |publisher=Railfan & Railroad Magazine}}{{cite web |date=August 24, 2022 |title=Southern Pacific 2472 Excursion Canceled |url=https://railfan.com/southern-pacific-2472-excursion-canceled/ |publisher=Railfan & Railroad Magazine}}

References

Bibliography

{{Cite book |last=Dunscomb |first=Guy L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iO9SAAAAMAAJ&q=A%20Century%20of%20SP%20Steam%20Locomotives |title=A Century of Southern Pacific Steam Locomotives, 1862-1962 |publisher=Guy L. Dunscomb. |year=1963 |pages=}}
{{Cite book |last=Luna |first=Henry J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7YqeCim1yegC&dq=Southern+Pacific+2467&pg=PA66 |title=Niles Canyon Railways |publisher=Arcadia |year=2005 |isbn=9780738529837}}
{{Cite book |last=Solomon |first=Brian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FlP0AwAAQBAJ&dq=Southern+Pacific+Class+P-8&pg=PA123 |title=Classic Locomotives: Steam and Diesel Power in 700 Photographs |publisher=Voyageur Press |year=2013 |isbn=9781610588683}}
{{Cite book |last=Solomon |first=Brian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QxYx-iC0FFQC&dq=Southern+Pacific+Class+P-8&pg=PA27 |title=Southern Pacific Passenger Trains |publisher=Voyageur Press |year=2005 |isbn=9781610605076}}
{{Cite book |last=Solomon |first=Brian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h9KnZZ09IY4C&dq=Southern+Pacific+Class+P-8&pg=PA121 |title=Steam Power |publisher=Voyageur Press |year=2009 |isbn=9781616732103}}