| Excellent example of thinking outside the box to solve problems. Southern Pacific literally turned their 4-8-8-2 steam locomotive around in order to solve smoke and vision problems inside long tunnels and snow sheds. It did create new problems such as the necessity to burn oil rather than coal, leaking oil and water lines over the drivers causing slippage, and front end collision danger for the crews. This loco was built by Baldwin in 1942 (SP says 3/1943) and lasted for nearly 14 years before being "vacated" in December of 1956 and eventually sold for scrap in January of 1957 at the Sacramento Shops. Specs - class AC-11, cab forward design, 63" drivers, impressive 250 psi boiler pressure, four sets of 24x32" cylinders, massive engine weight of 657,900 lb, impressive tractive effort of 124,300 lb. Arthur B Johnson photo |