Southern Pacific 2706, Tender locomotive in Colusa, US
Southern Pacific 2706 is a tender locomotive with a 2-8-0 wheel arrangement and two cylinders that together produce approximately 45,470 pounds of tractive effort. The machine is currently undergoing restoration at a facility in Colusa that was built in 2012 and is open for viewing.
Baldwin Locomotive Works built this steam engine in February 1904 as part of their major production for American railroads. It operated until the late 1950s, when it was retired at a yard near Brisbane, California.
This locomotive tells the story of early railroad craftsmanship and engineering that shaped America's industrial growth. It represents a time when steam power was essential to connecting distant communities across the country.
It helps to check ahead with the restoration facility about visiting hours, as access depends on ongoing work schedules. The locomotive sits indoors in a workshop where close inspection of mechanical details is possible when visits are permitted.
This locomotive made an unusual journey to Santa Cruz on the very day of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. This historical coincidence makes it a peculiar witness to one of California's most significant natural disasters.
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