A Unique Ride on the SP 2472

Hey Hot Water,

Did you ever ride on, or fire the 2472? 

Matt

No.

I believe that they took this engine out on the main line several years back and really let her stretch her legs for a special occasion.  Can anybody confirm this?  This is a really nice engine.

Just going by memory, but I'm pretty sure that we operated a doubleheader excursion with 2472, back in 1991. I'm pretty sure it was after the 10th anniversary of the California State RR Museum, "Railfair 1991", and in order to return 2472 back to the Bay Area" a double header excursion was organized with 2472 in the lead, followed by 4449. Someplace around Oakland, the 2472 was cut-off, we turned the whole train, and 4449 took everyone back to Sacramento. Pretty nice trip as I recall, and being the Engineer on 4449, we let 2472 do pretty much all the work. After the speed restriction at the curve in Davis, CA, Engineer Neil Voden on the 2472 really opened her up and we just kept accelerating. I recall the SP wanted to keep the 2472 at 50 MPH, so we kept trying to get Neil's attention, by he wouldn't look back and we just continued to accelerate, and I helped him right up to about 70 MPH (the Roadforeman of Engines on board didn't seem to care, and was loving the stack music anyway! That 2472 sure sounded great.

I saw some video of her a few months ago, she is a real beauty.

Ed

What a great experience, and some great photos.  I agree....she is beautiful.

Hot Water,

Did you ever "drive" a GP?  Matt

If you mean a GP7/9,,, then yes. If you mean a GP30/35,,, then yes. If you mean a GP40/40-2, or GP50, or GP60,,,,then yes.

I actually just wondered if you "drove" any of the GP's.  How about a GP38-2?

Matt

Possibly, but the control stands are all the same anyway after the AAR Control Stand became a requirement in about 1972, thus there isn't much difference. The real difference is the railroad that you are operating on, and the size of train you have.

It made a round trip to LA a few years back.

thanks ever so much for the cab roof shots.  It helps when making model SP cabs to know where they put the rivets.  Ditto the tender shots for water hatch placement.

Here is some video of 2472. A few folks standing around, but some otherwise

nice shots of her and a rather niftly train she's hauling!

2472

Thanks to boin 106 for starting this thread. And, while I'm at it, thanks to

all the folks whose hard work keep these steam locomotives living!

Ed

Great shots! I would still be 'pullin' me drawers outta me crack' if I had been on

top of that tender. You guys have balls of steel!!!

What a wonderful video.  I have long thought that #2472 is one of the most under appreciated steamers currently in operation.  Also wondered why 3rd Rail has never done a model of it - after all it is located in their back yard.

Following the TCA national convention in Sacramento, we heard she would be operating over 4th of July weekend, so went to the Niles Canyon to ride behind her. Turns out, we came on the 3rd and she was running only on the 4th!  

Apparently you missed the various versions on the Southern Pacific P Class Pacific models that Sunset/3rd Rail produced some year ago. They offered P8 and P10 versions, including #2467, #2472, and I personally chose #2478. The 2478 model looks great pulling about 6 Weaver two-tone gray Pullman-Bradley coaches.

That is a beautiful engine!  I hope to see it someday.

Dadgum...you're right Hot Water.  I did miss the SP Pacific offering by Sunset.  I would've taken the 2472...hands down!  Oh well.  Matt

Jack, 2472 and 4449 also ran a RT doubleheader from San Jose to Watsonville Jct. on 7/26/92 as part of the NRHS convention.

Here is video I shot of the convention from my YouTube channel "YankInGA": NRHS San Jose 1992

Check out the whole channel. Lots more coverage of all those locomotives and others.

Thanks, I remember that outing well. We even had a night photo session with the 4449 and 2472.