Sierra Railroad No. 28 is a 2-8-0 "Consolidation" type steam locomotive built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1922 for the Sierra Railway.
The locomotive was designed to haul heavy gravel and freight trains for raising the Don Pedro Melones and O'Shaughnessy dams.
After the dams' completion in the mid-1920's No. 28 hauled the most freight traffic on the railroad's lower division.
After completion of the project, #28 returned to hauling freight until dieselisation in 1955, when it went into storage with #3, #34 and #36 at the Jamestown roundhouse, occasionally steamed up for filming and excursions.
It was derailed on an excursion in 1963 and later retired from service with damaged air brakes then 8 years later in 1971 the engine was restored, and in steam at Railtown 1897.
Today the engine is still at Railtown 1897.
Trivia[]
- On April 17, 1995 it lead the "Farewell to Steam" excursion with Engine No. 38.
- The locomotive appeared in several movies, including Go West, Young Dog, Bound for Glory, Something Wicked This Way Comes (albeit obscured), Chattanooga Choo Choo, Bonanza, the Return, Overland Trail, Nichols, Little House on the Prairie, and The World's Greatest Lover.
- In 1999 it was moved to the Old Sacramento to participate in Raifair '99.
- The engine's first period in active preservation lasted for 3 years until the a fire destroyed the cab's woodwork and damaged the controls.
- As of 2016, #28 is finally under restoration to operating condition.
- On October 19, 1963 the locomotive derailed while backing through a switch in Jamestown, effectively ending all excursion trains on the railroad until the opening of Railtown 1897.
- On June 1, 2019, the locomotive is back in service after being out of service for a 5-year restoration.
- No. 28 Used to wear a "Cannonball" 5- chime whistle, a Cracked Nathan 5-chime and a Baldwin 6 inch 3-chime whistle but today she doesn't.