Southern Pacific No. 2248

Southern Pacific No. 2248
Number(s)	2248
Technical specifications
Serial number(s)	2341
Manufacturer(s)	Cooke Locomotive & Machine Co.
Build date	1896
Classification	T-1
Wheel arrangement	4-6-0
Dia. of Drivers	63”
Weight	142,350 lbs
Rail gauge	56.5”
Valve gear	Stephenson
Cylinders	two
Boiler pressure	170 (Reduced from 180)
Bore stroke	26
Dia. x stroke	20
Fuel type	Oil
Fuel capacity	1200 Gallons
Braking	6ET
Performance figures
Maximum speed	60 mph 97 km/h
Tractive effort	25,257 lbs

Southern Pacific No. 2248, also known as 'The Tarantula Engine' and 'Puffy', is a T-1 class 4-6-0 "Ten Wheeler" type steam locomotive built by the A.L. Cooke Locomotive Works in 1896 for the Southern Pacific Railroad (SP) for mixed traffic duties, originally numbered as 1829. 2248 was later modified to fight fires in forests along the SP's lines until it was leased to the Pacific Fruit Express Company in 1945 and later retired from service in 1959 when its boiler flues expired.

Eventually, 2248 became part of a private collection. When Disney was looking for a locomotive to run at one of his parks, he went for 2248. However, that project never came to be and 2248 was later sold to the Texas State Railroad between Palestine and Rusk, TX in 1974 where it was restored to operating condition as their No. 200. The locomotive would operate tourist excursions at the TSRR from 1976 until being taken out of service in 1981. 2248 was later sold to the Fort Worth & Western Railroad in 1990 for use on the Tarantula Express and operated there until being taken out of service again in 1999 due to major boiler work being required on the locomotive. 2248 was restored back to operation in 2001 and later sold to the Grapevine Vintage Railroad in 2004 where it operated more excursions until being taken out of service once again in early 2016 due to boiler issues.

As of today, 2248 still resides at the Grapevine Vintage Railroad awaiting a boiler replacement and will eventually run again when its boiler replacement is complete. According to the railroad, it is currently estimated that 2248 will return to service again sometime in the coming years.

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