Just a bit of fun--but what road is the object of Dennis Mitchell's attention from? I don't think it's NYC or SP, certainly not SR. Could it be C&NW? And she appears to be wearing white flags, signifying an extra. Perhaps an excursion?

https://www.facebook.com/RailroadGloryD ... 99/?type=3

Looks like an NYC K-3 Pacific to me; even the number is correct (for pre-war number series).

Howard P.

Another approach:

That's a 1950s' Dennis. Hank Ketcham was a native of Washington but started his career in Los Angeles working for Disney, and spent most of his early career around L.A. before settling in Carmel (south of San Jose and San Francisco).

The loco has a Southern Pacific feel about it, to me.