Quincy Railroad #2

Technical Data

BuilderALCO, Schenectady, NY
Number65032
DateDecember 1924
Type2-6-2T
Cylinders16 x 24 Inches
Drivers44 inches
Boiler Pressure180 PSI
Gross Weight59.8 tons
Tractive Effort21,400lbs

History

  • 1924, Built new as Quincy Railroad Co. No. 2, Quincy, CA
  • 1970 (August), purchased by Iron Horse Railroads, Inc., Hayward, CA
  • 1971 (May), on loan to PLA from IHR
  • 1973, In service, Castro Point Railway
  • 1986, Participated in Expo 86, Vancouver, Canada; moved to Niles Canyon Railway, Brightside Yard, Sunol, CA
  • 1987 to 1990, rebuilt, NCRy Brightside Shops
  • 1990, in service, Niles Canyon Railway, Sunol, CA
  • 2000 to 2002, rebuilt, NCRy Brightside Shops
  • 2002 (July), in service, NCRy, Sunol, CA
  • April 30, 2017 – Last day of active service on the NCRy. Stored awaiting a 1472 overhaul.

The No.2 was built for the Quincy Railroad Company in 1924 by American Locomotive Company (ALCO) of Schenectady, New York, and spent her entire freight-hauling career working for the Quincy Railroad. The No.2 was purchased to replace Quincy Railroad No.1, a much smaller 0-4-4T weighing 37 tons.

The Quincy Railroad is located in Plumas County, CA, in the Feather River area of Northern California. The railroad was built to connect the town of Quincy (and lumber interests nearby) to the Western Pacific Railroad (WP) a few miles away. From Quincy, the railroad ran across the flat American Valley and then climbed a quick 4% grade up to the WP at Quincy Junction.

Shortly after the No.2 arrived in late 1924, the railroad’s single busiest job was to haul supplies for the construction of the Bucks Ranch Dam from 1925 to 1927. During this time, the No.2 hauled rock, concrete, and very large gasoline-powered shovels across the railroad. After the Dam project, most of the freight handled on the Quincy was finished lumber.

The No.2 was relegated to standby duty in 1945 when diesel locomotive No.3, a 44-ton General Electric switcher was purchased. The No.2 was occasionally used for railfan excursions until being sold in August 1970 to Pacific Locomotive Association member George Adams.

The No.2 operated during the 1970s and early 1980s on the former Castro Point Railway in Richmond, CA. In 1986, the No.2 was shipped to Canada for Expo 86. When the No.2 returned to California, it was placed in storage until being moved to the Niles Canyon Railway for restoration around 1990.

The No.2 began operating for the Niles Canyon Railway in 1992, pulling passenger excursion trains on a regular schedule until August 2000, when it was then shopped for a major overhaul. Returning to service on the NCRy in June 2002, it operated until April 30, 2017 when #2’s current 15 year operating window ended. The engine is now stored safely awaiting an eventual 1472 day overhaul.

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#2 leads the NCRy’s weekend excursion train in early 2017 just east of Farmer’s Crossing along Highway 84. Photo by: Chris Hauf – Used with permission
Quincy Railroad #2 makes its last trip over Farwell Bridge on its last day of service, 4/30/2017. Photo by Chris Hauf – Used with permission