Sierra Railway 28

2-8-0 Consolidation number 28 was built in January 1922 for the Sierra Railroad by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built in response to the increase of freight traffic on the Sierra with the construction of the Don Pedro and O'Shaughnessy Dams requiring carloads of rock and cement.[1] After the dam projects were finished, the 28 was assigned to freight traffic on the Sierra's lower division between Oakdale and Jamestown, California.[2]

In the mid 1930s, the 28 was used in the upgrade of the O'Shaughnessy Dam and frequently ran on the Hetch Hetchy Railroad, which was operated by the Sierra Railway under contract from the city of San Francisco. The 28 also ran mixed freights between Oakdale and Tuolumne until 31 August 1938 when passenger service on the Sierra Railway was discontinued.[1]

By the 1940s, the 28 was one of only six remaining locomotives on the Sierra's roster and continued to handle freight and railfan excursions until 1955 when the Sierra dieselized. However, the Sierra kept the 28 along with 4-6-0 number 3, 2-8-0 number 18, 2-8-2 number 34 and 2-8-2 number 36 for occasional railfan trips and movie work. The railfan excursions were ended in October 1963 after the 28 derailed in the Jamestown yard.[1]

The 28 also made a few brief cameo appearances in several movies and TV show during this time including Overland Trail, Nichols, Little House on the Prairie, Bound for Glory and The World's Greatest Lover.[1]

On October 19, 1963 the locomotive derailed backing through a switch in Jamestown effectively ending all excursion trains on the railroad until the opening of Railtown 1897. In May 1971, the Sierra Railway opened its Jamestown shops and yards to the public in the form of Railtown 1897. The 28 quickly became the workhorse of this new tourist operation. In 1979, Crocker Industries, which owned the Sierra Railroad and Railtown 1897 decided to sell Railtown 1897 and all of its assets, including the 28, to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, which reorganized Railtown 1897 as Railtown 1897 State Historic Park.[1]

After the State of California took over Railtown's operations, 28 continued to serve as its locomotive, operating seasonally. In February 2009, the 28 was taken out of service after its crown sheet and other parts of the firebox were found to be too thin for legal operation. 28 sat stored in public view in the Jamestown roundhouse awaiting funds until August 2013 when it was torn down for repairs to its firebox along with new flues and Staybolts.

After being out of service for a 5-year restoration, the 28 returned to operation on June 1, 2019.

• Sierra No. 3, a 4-6-0 also owned by Railtown 1897