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Santa Cruz Portland Cement Co. No. 2 is an 0-4-0ST type standard gauge saddle tank steam locomotive built by H. K. Porter, Inc. in 1909 working for the Santa Cruz Portland Cement Company, as well as Bechtel Kaiser Rock Co. in Oroville where she operated with a former Folsom Prison locomotive.

Santa Cruz Portland Cement Co. No. 2 was purchased in 2006 by Efstathios I. Pappas. Nicknamed the Chiggen, the locomotive served as a billboard for a fried chicken restaurant for over 30 years. Restoration to operating condition was completed in 2014. This engine pulled excursion passenger trains at the Niles Canyon Railway, Roaring Camp Railroads, Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad and the Northwest Railway Museum.

In May 2020, the Chiggen was moved to the Placerville and Sacramento Valley Railroad (PSVRR). On February 20, 2022, it ran a test train on the PSVRR. In 2022, it visited the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, NV to participate in their Great Western Steam Up event alongside Virginia & Truckee No. 22, nicknamed Inyo, Virginia & Truckee No. 25, Carson & Tahoe Lumber & Fluming Company No. 1, nicknamed Glenbrook, Eureka & Palisade No. 4, nicknamed Eureka, Southern Pacific No. 18, and several others between July 1st and 4th.

In August 2022, it was moved to the California Western Railroad, also known as The Skunk Train, in Fort Bragg, CA to operate their regularly-scheduled excursion trains while their own steamer, California Western No. 45, is out of service receiving an extensive overhaul. The Chiggen is slated to return to the PSVRR soon.

As of today, the locomotive is available for rent to railroads and special events.

Trivia[]

  • The opening between the boiler and frame is large enough to comfortably lubricate the inside Stephenson link motion without a service pit.

Gallery[]

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