The Golden Gate Railroad Museum web site says that they have sold the SP 1227 to the Sierra Railroad.

The Sierra has not had a steam engine in many years. In fact there is a thread below about some of their very antique Diesels. Are we going to see a revival of steam operation there in the timber country?

The switcher was in pieces on a couple oof flat cars the last time I saw her a few years ago. So they are going to have a lot of work to do to get her back together and operational.

The 1227 was by the way the last park engine in the Bay Area where she was displayed in Lincoln Park, Alameda. I saw her there next to a baseball field a few years ago.

Any further news would be appreciated.

Ted Miles

That was sold to the Sierra back in 2006.

Richard

Sierra Pacific also has the McCloud engine, owned by the new V&T on hand on lease. They are expected to be the operator of the new V&T, and with the boiler days due to run out before needed in Nevada it was sent to CA to work off its remaining flue time.

Sierra Pacific runs several lines here including the Sierra Railroad and the California and Western (the Skunk train) In addition to bidding on the V&T they are also interested in operating the Santa Cruz branch if that line ends up in public ownership.

Small correction: the company that owns the Sierra and Cal Western is the Sierra Northern Railway:

http://www.sierranorthern.com/

Coincidently, Sierra Pacific Industries is a foresting concern that owns several west coast lumber mills and operates the Quincy Railroad:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincy_Railroad_%28CA%29

Sierra Pacific Ind. is known for it's support of historic preservation. Two former Quincy diesel locomotives reside at the Western Pacific Railroad Museum at Portola:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Pacific_Railroad_Museum

Chris Allan

Sierra Northern has possession of ex MCRR 18, however it is owned by the State of Nevada and is slated for use on the future operation of the Virginia and Truckee. Sierra Northern won the contract for that operation. I believe there are at least two 0-6-0 SP engines in Oakdale. On Nov 4, 2007, the Pacific Locomotive Association charted both the 18 and the CSRM/Railtown/Sierra 28 for a doubleheader.

Note that Sierra Northern also owns and operates the former Yolo Shortline. A SP 0-6-0 was in operation there for a time, FRA-level restoration project was begun, however it has been basically reassembled and now will be trucked across the California Northern tracks to a disconnected display track next to the restored Woodland station. The locomotive is in the care of a local non-profit museum group.

Sierra Pacific has two lumber mills on the Sierra/Sierra Northern. The Chinese Camp mill is very much active making fence boards (well, maybe not as much anymore) while the Standard Mill outside Sonora seems to be reducing operations. Many parcels of land have been sold or subdivided there. The old company office is a micro brewery. The mill also removed Sierra mainline track on site (subject of bitter legal battles in the 1990s) and as a result the rest of the standard gauge mainline to Tuolumne is islolated. Motor cars have run on this track on occasion.

The Sierra Railroad has a complicated history that is yet not very documented since Deane's book in the early 1960s. I have heard a manuscript is in development.
Hope that helps.
Olin