Southern Pacific No. 1629 is a 2-6-0 'Mogul' Class M4 steam locomotive built by the Schenectady Locomotive Works (later part of Alco) in November 1900 under works number 5680.
It was purchased by the Southern Pacific Railroad for use on the line that ran from Yuma, Arizona, to Portland, Oregon, passing through the Santa Clarita Valley. Between 1905 and 1910, the Southern Pacific would convert its entire fleet to burn oil instead of coal and No. 1629 was one of the engines that was modified. While in active service with Southern Pacific's Tucson division, No. 1629 supposedly appeared in about 20 movies made in Southern Arizona before 1957.
In 1957 No. 1629 was retired from service and was sold to Western actor Gene Autry, becoming the fifth locomotive in his collection. Autry used No. 1629 in various films and television series filmed at his Melody Ranch in Placerita Canyon, California, such as "Gunsmoke" and "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp."
Autry donated the locomotive in 1981 to the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society, and it was moved there on April 22, 1982, to its present location next to the Saugus Depot in Newhall, California, where it was cosmetically restored to resemble its former glory.
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