Last news that I heard about this engine were some rumors in the 90s that there were some plans to restore her back to operational status for excursions, but obviously this never happened. Does anybody else know something new about her? I think it would be very nice to restore it back to operational status, as it could join the 4449 and doublehead long excursion trains with her. She´s such a powerful engine, so why not do this? The good thing is that because of her 63 inch drivers she´s not too large/rigid and therefore not too much restricted for operation, and the fact that she spent all her time in the mild and mostly dry climate of Southern California, it makes her a good candidate for restauration because of her good condition. I mean her neighbour (UP #4014) was chosen for restauration mostly because of these reasons. What do you think?
Three-cylinder locomotives had plenty of maintenance issues during the steam era, this would only get worse in the present. SP 5021 is also a low-drivered locomotive, it would give the mudchicken and his colleagues nightmares just thinking about what it would do to their track.
When 5021 was returned to Pomona in 1975 after many years of storage off site it is said that during the process of lifting her into her display spot a improper lift was performed that resulted in a cracked cylinder casting, if true, it is doubtful it will ever operate again.
Dave
Ok, if THIS is really true, then there is indeed no hope left for a steamy comeback of her.
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