California Western Railroad No. 45 is a 2-8-2 "Mikado" type steam locomotive. It was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, PA in October 1924 (serial number 58045). It is a class 12-32 1/4 E 2-8-2 Mikado, a stock locomotive that Baldwin had in their catalogs, and is one of six surviving class 12-32 1/4 E 2-8-2 Mikados in existence.
The engine was originally built for the Brownlee-Olds Lumber Co. as their No. 3, where it was used to haul log trains until 1959 where it was later sold to the Medford Corporation.
The engine was retired from service in 1964 and The Medford Corporation sold No. 45 to the California Western Railroad in 1965.
Between 1965 and 1980, No. 45, along with stablemate No. 46, pulled the railroad's Fort Bragg - Willits summer steam excursion train, the "Super Skunk". This service resumed in the 1990s until it was again discontinued in 2001 when No. 45 went down for restoration. During this period, the locomotive had a smiling mouth on its smokebox door, which was removed during the 2001-04 restoration. When she returned to steam in 2004, the decision was made the Sierra Railway, the CWR's new owner, to not revive the Super Skunk, due to the locomotive's age. It was, however, revived as a special event in 2006, but No. 45 now requires a helper locomotive for dynamic braking.
The locomotive is still at the California Western Railroad, operating tourist excursion service in the summer between Fort Bragg and Northspur, CA on select days; otherwise, the railroad's EMD GP9M locomotives or historic diesel railcars do the bulk of the work. However as of 2024, the locomotive is under an overhaul.
Trivia[]
- In 1983, after two-year operational hiatus, the locomotive briefly returned to service, and was renumbered #44 for a role in Racing with the Moon. The locomotive retained this number for several months.
Gallery[]
