Railways in San Francisco
I visited San Francisco in January 1986 and took the opportunity to photograph some cable cars. But I was never good at recording exactly what and where so some of these photographs remained mysteries until Mark Brader from Toronto wrote to clear up some of the locations. Many thanks to Mark for helping out.
San Francisco Cable Trams
Southern Pacific Railroad P-8 4-6-2 (Number 2472)
In early '86, I visited San Francisco, and heard about a group of people restoring a steam loco. I tracked them down, and visited a group of enthusiastic and very hospitable blokes working on 2472. You can read all about the outcome of their labours at Southern Pacific #2472 Class P-8 4-6-2 locomotive. Current restoration status is recorded at The Golden Gate Railroad Museum News Page. For now, check these "historic" photos!
Southern Pacific #2472 was built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1921. It is a 4-6-2 Pacific type, having 4 leading wheels, 6 drivers, and 2 trailing wheels. Pacifics such as the #2472 where designed primarily for high-speed passenger train service where sustained high speeds were just as important as pulling capability. Pacifics were used on railroads around the world and could be seen in the rosters of a great many American railroads. Southern Pacific classed the 2472 as a P-8, along with 14 sister engines built from the same Baldwin order. (From the web page)
