Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) number 5021 is an SP-2 class 4-10-2 steam locomotive built in 1926 by ALCO at their Schenectady, New York, shops. It is the only member of this class of SP locomotives to be preserved, and it is one of only five three-cylinder locomotives preserved in North America.

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Southern Pacific 5021
Photo of Southern Pacific 5021 in 1962
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder American Locomotive Company (ALCO) Serial number 66793 Build date 1926
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-10-2 Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge Driver dia. 63+1⁄2 in (1,613 mm) Adhesive weight 317,500 lb (144,000 kg) Tender cap. 16,152 US gal (61,140 l; 13,449 imp gal) water 4,912 US gal (18,590 l; 4,090 imp gal) fuel oil Boiler pressure 225 psi (1,550 kPa) Cylinders 3 Cylinder size (inside) 25 in × 28 in (635 mm × 711 mm) dia × stroke (outside) 25 in × 32 in (635 mm × 813 mm) dia × stroke
Performance figures Maximum speed 70 mph (113 km/h) (Passenger Service) Tractive effort 84,200 lbf (375,000 N) 96,540 lbf (429,400 N) with booster
Career Operators Southern Pacific Railroad Class SP-2 Number in class 49 Numbers 5021 Retired 1955,1963 Restored 1961 Current owner Railway and Locomotive Historical Society Disposition On static display at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds (RailGiants Train Museum), Pomona, California

History

The locomotive was designed to haul mixed freight and passenger trains over the Sierra Nevada range between northern California and Nevada. Later in its career, 5021 was shifted to service in Oregon, where it remained until its retirement in 1955.

Southern Pacific donated 5021 to the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society on March 8, 1956. In 1961, it was fired up and used for operation on the museum's spur line. However, the Southern Pacific did not like this, so they were forced to pull the tracks in 1963. Following this, 5021 was stored in the roundhouse of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. While it was stored, a possible excursion career for the 5021 was being arranged by the Santa Fe, but the plans were dropped.

5021 sat in Southern Pacific's San Bernardino yard until 1975, when it was moved to the Southern Pacific Taylor Yard in Glendale, CA. Shortly after, it was moved back to the RailGiants Train Museum, when Southern Pacific 4449 was on display with the American Freedom Train in the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. As of 2022, 5021 is on permanent display at the Fairplex railway exhibit in Pomona, California.

In film

5021 made a cameo appearance with Union Pacific 4014 in the 1994 Kidsongs Video: Little Red Caboose shot in RailGiants Train Museum, and also played the ghost train in the 1991 film Sometimes They Come Back. Instead of the 5021's own whistle, the whistle came from Norfolk and Western 1218 instead.

References

• Diebert, Timothy S. & Strapac, Joseph A. (1987). Southern Pacific Company Steam Locomotive Conpendium. Shade Tree Books. ISBN 0-930742-12-5.

External links

• Southern Pacific 5021