
Central Pacific No. 1 as seen on static display.
Central Pacific No. 1, named "Gov. Stanford" is an American type (4-4-0) steam locomotive built in 1862 by Richard Norris & Sons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for the Central Pacific Railroad.
No. 1 hauled the CP's first excursion train, first revenue freight on 25 March 1864 and first scheduled passenger train on 15 April 1864.
Once reassembled, it was named in honor of the railroad's then president, Leland Stanford, who was also Governor of California.
Downgraded from mainline service in 1873, #1 worked as a switcher and fire engine in the Sacramento area until retired in 1895.
It was then presented to Jane Lathrop Stanford, Leland's widow, who donated it to the Leland Stanford Junior University and Soon after, #1 went on display in the university's museum.
It is now on static display at the California State Railroad Museum while cosmetically restored to its 1899 appearance.
Trivia[]
- It is the first engine ordered by the newly incorporated Central Pacific Railroad.
- Disassembled and shipped in crates around Cape Horn on the Herald of the Morning, the locomotive arrived in Sacramento on 6 October 1863.
- It remains the property of the university but is currently on loan to the museum.
- The locomotive used to help build the transcontinental railroad as well as haul passenger trains.