C. P. Huntington

C. P. Huntington
C.P. Huntington after its 1888 rebuild in Sacramento
Type and origin Power type Steam Builder Cooke Locomotive Works Serial number 277 Build date October 1863
Specifications Configuration: ​  • Whyte 4-2-4T  • UIC 2′A2′ nt Gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) Driver dia. 54 in (1,372 mm) Adhesive weight 18,500 lb (8.4 tonnes) Loco weight 39,000 lb (17.7 tonnes) Boiler pressure 125 lbf/in2 (862 kPa) Cylinders Two, outside Cylinder size 11 in × 15 in (279 mm × 381 mm) Valve type Slide valves
Performance figures Tractive effort 3,571 lbf (15.88 kN)
Career Official name C. P. Huntington First run April 15, 1864 Current owner California State Railroad Museum Disposition Static display

C. P. Huntington is a 4-2-4T steam locomotive currently on static display at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, California, USA. It is the first locomotive purchased by the Southern Pacific Railroad, carrying that railroad's number 1. The locomotive is named in honor of Collis P. Huntington, the third president of the Southern Pacific Company (parent company of Southern Pacific Railroad).

History and career

C. P. Huntington was originally purchased by Central Pacific Railroad (CP) in 1863 as that railroad's number 3, along with its sister engine T. D. Judah (CP no. 4). It was CP's third locomotive after Gov. Stanford (number 1, built by Norris Locomotive Works) and Pacific (number 2, built by Mason Machine Works). CP used the locomotive beginning on April 15, 1864, during construction of the western portion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in North America.

Southern Pacific (SP) purchased C. P. Huntington from CP on February 5, 1871, and used it in light service in northern California. It was rebuilt twice, first in 1873 with new valves and again in 1888 with a new boiler built by CP's Sacramento shops. In 1888 the locomotive was also put on public display for the first time in Sacramento.

In SP's 1891 renumbering plan, C. P. Huntington was assigned road number 1001. The locomotive was placed in storage for some time until it was rebuilt for use as a lineside weed burner in 1901. Its use as a weed burner proved unsatisfactory and the locomotive was again removed from active service. In 1910, C. P. Huntington was again rebuilt and it was then kept at SP's machine shops where it remained for a few years. The locomotive was nearly scrapped in 1914; it was spared this fate by SP management so that it could be displayed at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915 after a cosmetic restoration.

C. P. Huntington is currently on static display at the California State Railroad Museum.

Working replicas

Chance Industries Inc. (now Chance-Morgan after merging with D.H. Morgan Manufacturing), began to fabricate their 24 inches (610 mm) gauge C.P. Huntington Train locomotive in 1960. It is a geared locomotive similar to a Heisler locomotive powered by a gasoline or diesel engine. Its drive wheels are not powered but roll on the rails and fake side rods reciprocate in and out of fake cylinders. This park train has been the most popular park train since The Allan Herschell Company merged to Chance Industries and the S-24 "Iron Horse" train production ceased. Many amusement parks are replacing their steam locomotives since this train is easier to maintain and operate. There are two C.P Huntington replicas operating the perimeter track at the Santa Barbara Zoo.

In popular culture

The unique design of the C.P. Huntington inspired the appearance of The Little Engine That Could in most storybook renderings.

References

• Diebert, Timothy S. and Strapac, Joseph A. (1987). Southern Pacific Company Steam Locomotive Conpendium. Shade Tree Books. ISBN 0-930742-12-5.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• C.P. Huntington Information Page