Quincy Railroad
Company
Number 2
Facts
And Figures
Quincy
Railroad Company No. 2
Builder: American Locomotive Company: Schenectady Works
Builders
number: 66032
Built
Date: December 1924
Wheel Arrangement: 2-6-2T
Gross Weight: 119,700 lbs / 59.9 tons in working order.
Cylinder dimensions: 16" bore by 24" stroke
Driver Diameter: 44"
Boiler Pressure: 180 psi
Tractive Effort: 21,400 lbs
QuincyRailroad Co. #2
By Johnathon Kruger and Dave Loyola
The
No.2 was built for the Quincy Railroad Company in 1924 by American
Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York, and spent her
entire freight-hauling career working for the Quincy Railroad. The No.2
was purchased to replace Quincy Railroad No.1, a much smaller 0-4-4T
weighing 37 tons.
The 6 mile long Quincy Railroad is located in
Plumas County, CA, in the Feather River area of Northern California.
The railroad was built to connect the town of Quincy (and lumber
interests nearby) to the Western Pacific Railroad (WP) a few miles
away. From Quincy, the railroad ran across the flat American Valley and
then climbed a 3/4 mile 5% grade up to the WP at Quincy Junction.
Shortly
after the No.2 arrived in late 1924, the railroad's single busiest job
was to haul supplies for the construction of the Bucks Ranch Dam from
1925 to 1927. During this time, the No.2 hauled rock, concrete, and
very large gasoline-powered shovels across the railroad. After the Dam
project, most of the freight handled on the Quincy was finished lumber.
The
No.2 was relegated to standby duty in 1945 when diesel locomotive No.3,
a 44-ton General Electric switcher was purchased. In the late
1950s
and early 1960s, the #2 was in active service when the #3 was out being
overhauled. The No.2 was occasionally used for railfan excursions until
being sold in August 1970 to Pacific Locomotive Association member
George Adams.
The No.2 was moved to the Castro Point Railway in
Richmond, CA in 1970, and operated from 1972 to 1985. In 1986, the No.2
was invited to participate in “SteamExpo” at Vancouver
Canada's World
Expo. When the No.2 returned to California, it was placed in storage in
Fremont, CA until being moved to the Niles Canyon Railway for
restoration in 1990.
The No.2 began operating for the Niles
Canyon Railway in 1992, pulling passenger excursion trains on a regular
schedule until August 2000, when it was then shopped for a major
overhaul. Returning to service on the NCRy in June 2002, people of
today can experience the sights and sounds of this small tank engine; a
form of motive power that once was prevalent on branch lines throughout
America.
Last
Updated 11/28/2008
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