C. P. Huntington
Encyclopedia
C. P. Huntington is a 4-2-4
T 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).
(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
.
after merging with D.H. Morgan Manufacturing), began to fabricate their 24 inches (609.6 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 most storybook renderings.
4-2-4 (locomotive)
In Whyte notation, a 4-2-4 is a steam locomotive that has a four-wheel leading truck, one powered driving axle and a four-wheel unpowered trailing truck.Other equivalent classifications are:...
T steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
currently on static display at the California State Railroad Museum
California State Railroad Museum
The California State Railroad Museum is a museum in the state park system of California, USA, interpreting the role of the "iron horse" in connecting California to the rest of the nation. It is located in Old Sacramento at 111 I Street....
in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
, USA. It is the first locomotive purchased by the Southern Pacific Railroad
Southern Pacific Railroad
The Southern Pacific Transportation Company , earlier Southern Pacific Railroad and Southern Pacific Company, and usually simply called the Southern Pacific or Espee, was an American railroad....
, carrying that railroad's number 1. The locomotive is named in honor of Collis P. Huntington
Collis P. Huntington
Collis Potter Huntington was one of the Big Four of western railroading who built the Central Pacific Railroad as part of the first U.S. transcontinental railroad...
, 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 RailroadCentral Pacific Railroad
The Central Pacific Railroad is the former name of the railroad network built between California and Utah, USA that formed part of the "First Transcontinental Railroad" in North America. It is now part of the Union Pacific Railroad. Many 19th century national proposals to build a transcontinental...
(CP) in 1863 as that railroad's number 3, along with its sister engine T. D. Judah
T. D. Judah
T. D. Judah was the name of a 4-2-2 steam locomotive owned by the Central Pacific Railroad. It was named in honor of the railroad's first chief engineer, Theodore Dehone Judah, who surveyed a passable route over the Sierra Nevada Mountains for the Transcontinental Railroad.- History and career...
(CP no. 4). It was CP's third locomotive after Gov. Stanford
Gov. Stanford
Gov. Stanford is a 4-4-0 steam locomotive originally built in 1862 by Norris Locomotive Works. It entered service on November 9, 1863 and it was used in the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad in North America by Central Pacific Railroad bearing road number 1...
(number 1, built by Norris Locomotive Works
Norris Locomotive Works
The Norris Locomotive Works was a steam locomotive manufacturing company based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that produced about a thousand railroad engines between 1832 and 1866. It was the dominant American locomotive producer during most of that period, and even sold its popular 4-2-0 engines...
) and Pacific (number 2, built by Mason Machine Works
Mason Machine Works
The Mason Machine Works was a machinery manufacturing company located in Taunton, Massachusetts between 1845 and 1944. The company became famous for an early invention by its creator, William Mason, the self-acting mule, first patented in 1840. The company also later produced locomotives, rifles...
). CP used the locomotive beginning on April 15, 1864, during construction of the western portion of the First Transcontinental Railroad
First Transcontinental Railroad
The First Transcontinental Railroad was a railroad line built in the United States of America between 1863 and 1869 by the Central Pacific Railroad of California and the Union Pacific Railroad that connected its statutory Eastern terminus at Council Bluffs, Iowa/Omaha, Nebraska The First...
in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
Southern Pacific (SP) purchased C. P. Huntington from CP on February 5, 1871, and used it in light service in northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It was rebuilt twice, first in 1873 with new valves and again in 1888 with a new boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
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
Panama-Pacific International Exposition (1915)
The Panama-Pacific International Exposition was a world's fair held in San Francisco, California between February 20 and December 4 in 1915. Its ostensible purpose was to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, but it was widely seen in the city as an opportunity to showcase its recovery...
in 1915 after a cosmetic restoration.
C. P. Huntington is currently on static display at the California State Railroad Museum
California State Railroad Museum
The California State Railroad Museum is a museum in the state park system of California, USA, interpreting the role of the "iron horse" in connecting California to the rest of the nation. It is located in Old Sacramento at 111 I Street....
.
Working replicas
Chance Industries Inc. (now Chance-MorganChance-Morgan
Chance Morgan, a roller coaster and amusement ride manufacturer, was formed in 2001 with the merger of Chance Industries and D. H. Morgan Manufacturing . The main office is D. H. Morgan's former location in La Selva Beach, California and they utilize Chance Industries' former manufacturing...
after merging with D.H. Morgan Manufacturing), began to fabricate their 24 inches (609.6 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
The Allan Herschell Company
The Allan Herschell Company was a company that specialized in the creation of amusement rides, particularly carousels and roller coasters. The company manufactured portable machines which could be used by traveling carnival operators...
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
Santa Barbara Zoo
The Santa Barbara Zoo is located on near the ocean in Santa Barbara, California. It was formerly known as the Child's Estate Zoo. The zoo has been ranked numerous times as one of the nation's best small zoos. It has 600 animals in numerous exhibits, including capybara and Californian Condors, and...
.
In popular culture
The unique design of the C.P. Huntington inspired the appearance of The Little Engine That CouldThe Little Engine That Could
The Little Engine that Could is a children's story that appeared in the United States of America. The book is used to teach children the value of optimism and hard work...
in most storybook renderings.